totally out of control... INT. TUNNEL ... Gabriella looks around, wiping the sweat
off her upper lip. All-In Joy ... been grinding at this game longer than that ....
SOUND GUYS appear and takes ... clasps his hand in hers, as they access each
other. GABRIELLA ..... The Honda Fit PULLS UP to the driveway of the Janeway
House,.
ALL-IN By Joy Kecken
WGA-w registered Draft 12.19.13
FADE IN: INT.
FINAL TABLE/2013 WORLD SERIES POKER STAGE - NIGHT
Ten PLAYERS gather their tray of chips and march toward the Final Table, fame and glory within reach. NORM CHAD We have our Final Table. Ten players. Vying to be the last man standing. We follow ONE PLAYER from the back, long black hair, female. Unlike the others, once she sets her tray down, she does not go over to the audience area, where FAMILY and SUPPORTERS await, but remains in arena. ON SCREEN the legend reads: 2013 World Series of Poker Main Event. Alone, our woman takes a seat at the table, under the BRIGHT LIGHTS. She sets a shark tooth card holder, her lucky charm, in front of her, and folds her hands over it. Her chip stack is substantial. Half her face is hidden behind her hair. With her air of mystique, her edginess and sexuality are undeniable. This is GABRIELLA JANEWAY, 40, African-American, glamorous, a chip on her shoulder. She looks across the table where the championship trophy, trays holding over $8 million dollars and the prized bracelet await. It is an unblinking look, a death stare of unflinching desire. A few players have returned to the final table area, but do not take a seat yet. They wait, as is custom, shaking hands. But Gabriella keeps her distance and no one approaches her. Poker pro PHIL IVEY accesses Gabriella and gives an AMATEUR a piece of advice, head-nodding towards her. Watch her.
PHIL IVEY
All-In INT.
Joy Kecken
12/19/13
2.
FINAL TABLE - LATER
The DEALER tosses the All-In chip next to Gabriella’s short chip stack. She stands, smiles down at the pot in front of her. The community cards read: K-Q-6. $1M.
The pot is already over
GABRIELLA You ever think your luck’s gonna change? I think this may be my night for that. So call and double me up and let luck carry me home. The CROWD is coming over to Gabriella’s side, electrifying the room. One by one, the remaining players fold to Gabriella’s monster bet. It’s now the amateur’s turn to decide his next move. The pros at the table hold their breath, looking to the amateur for his decision. His eyes laser locks on Gabriella and for one small moment, she blinks. Challenged, the amateur takes the bait, then pushes his chips in. He flips over a 6-5. He doesn’t meet her gaze. the table are horrified.
The pros at
GABRIELLA (CONT’D) You called with that? What’d you... (insulted) This is the biggest tournament of the season. And you want to knock me out with that? She flips over her pair of Aces, shaking her head. is on its feet with a ROAR.
The CROWD
For luck, Gabriella KNOCKS her knuckles on the felt. her back to the table.
Turns
Behind her back, the remaining PLAYERS go up to the amateur, patting his back for the ballsy move. A sigh forms on her lips. She’s forever the underdog. The dealer lays down the turn: a two. Nothing for either player. The CROWD waits in anticipation. Despite being the newbie, the amateur has more FANS, the tide turning in his favor.
All-In
Joy Kecken
12/19/13
3.
Gabriella can’t resist turning around and seeing her fate dealt with the last card. And then: A five comes on the river. Her Aces are cracked by his two pair. Gabriella flings her cards at the unlucky board and strides away from the table in disgust. ANNOUNCER (V.O.) You gotta shake hands with the man who beat you. You can’t leave feelings at the table and walk away like that. You’re bound to run into that person again. At some point, Gabriella’s got to be all-in with the rules before it gets totally out of control... INT.
TUNNEL DOWN TO STRIP - NIGHT
Gabriella stares down the rabbit hole, carrying her poker case at her side, the conveyor belt belching along, the mist from the cooling jets hovering above. EXT.
LAS VEGAS STRIP - NIGHT
Gabriella stands at the crossroads of neon and other desert illusions as TOURISTS are forced to maneuver around her. It is a dark hour for her. EXT./INT.
LAS VEGAS MONORAIL - NIGHT
The TRAIN snakes around the City skyline. PASSENGERS come and go, but Gabriella remains, in a world of her own. EXT.
MONORAIL STATION - NIGHT
Gabriella stands on the platform, alone, as the train pulls away, a flash from a BLUE SPARK lighting up the tracks. A beat and then she collects herself, sashaying down the platform with her case in tow. INT.
GABRIELLA’S PENTHOUSE/VEGAS SKYLINE - NIGHT
Gabriella flings her poker case against the wall in a total rage. Plaster, chips, cash and cards fly everywhere.
All-In INT.
Joy Kecken
12/19/13
4.
GABRIELLA’S DREAM - NIGHT
Gabriella sits at a desk in the dark in the corner of her bedroom, only her face visible. She looks trapped, depressed, on edge. The bedroom door CREAKS open... A GHOSTLY BLACK WOMAN reveals herself, holding a clear pitcher of water. She ho of her.
lds it out at Gabriella, who is alarmed at the sight
Water?
SPIRIT WOMAN
Gabriella recoils, speechless with fear. SPIRIT WOMAN (CONT’D) Do you need water -Gabriella rises and charges at the woman. The woman reveals her true nature, her face shifts and there is an edge now of danger. But the Spirit backs away. The pitcher SHATTERS. Get out.
GABRIELLA
They are making a beeline for the door. shove the woman out. Gabriella locks every lock. No.
Gabriella manages to
The woman tries to get back in.
GABRIELLA (CONT’D) Stay away from me.
Gabriella backs away from the door, freaked out. INT.
GABRIELLA’S PENTHOUSE - NIGHT
Gabriella GASPS, sits up in bed, shaken. She rushes to her front door, almost slipping on the mess from the poker case. She checks and the door is locked. dream.
She’s safe.
It was a
Gabriella looks around, wiping the sweat off her upper lip.
All-In EXT.
Joy Kecken
12/19/13
5.
LAS VEGAS - SUNRISE
The sun competes with the neon of Sin City. SPIRIT WOMAN (O.S.) ...Be quiet around the water spirits... EXT.
MASARATI - DAY
Gabriella approaches a bridge, listening to Day #5 World Series head-to-head action play out over her radio. SPIRIT WOMAN (O.S.) ...Or they’ll be unlucky to you. Gabriella catches sight of the water below and turns the program down to MUTE. She is very superstitious. As soon as she hits land, she turns UP the volume. SERIES ANNOUNCER #1 (O.S.) ...We’re down to head-to-head matchup. Two unknowns. The entire field of pros -- Phil, Tommy, Chris Moneymaker -- all fell away to college guys. SERIEE ANNOUNCER #2 (O.S.) I had my money on Gabriella Janeway regaining her championship spot. SERIES ANNOUNCER #1 (O.S.) But with her penchant for outbursts and superstitions, that may stay out of reach. SERIEE ANNOUNCER #2 (O.S.) Who can forget the loss she took against her own sister? Gabriella turns OFF the radio as she crosses into Lake Tahoe. INT.
HALLWAY/MANSION ON THE LAKE - DAY
Gabriella, worse for wear but composed, carrying a briefcase, strides past tables piled high with cash and blow to rival Charlie Sheen’s mansion. Several ESCORTS recognize Gabriella, nod in the direction of the deck.
All-In EXT.
Joy Kecken
12/19/13
6.
DECK/MANSION - DAY
Gabriella sits across from a front man, YARI. Gabriella as he opens the briefcase. GABRIELLA Closest I’ve come to the top seat in, what, twenty years. YARI You still made that top money. GABRIELLA I wanted the bracelet. And no one remembers the gal who came in seventh place. YARI Next year. (off her look) Don’t let it get under your skin. Okay? Wash your hands of it. I’ve already got you registered in the European circuit. Last swing through the Southern route. You’re going to the World Series again, one way or the other. (hands her a folder) Your itinerary. Gabriella considers it, sighs.
She’s tired.
GABRIELLA I have to change up my game. YARI C’mon, you made it to the final table. That’s better than most. GABRIELLA Not if I can’t beat an amateur. YARI None of the pros -- Look, you’ve been grinding at this game longer than that amateur’s been breathing. You have nothing to prove, Gabriella. GABRIELLA I should be on top. I’m not going to come back here without a bracelet. I promise you that. (MORE)
He takes in
All-In
Joy Kecken
12/19/13
7.
GABRIELLA (CONT'D) I want everyone to know I own this game. They know.
YARI
GABRIELLA That’s not what they’re talking about on the radio. Elise this. Elise that. YARI I’ll correct that. It was a long time ago. You were lucky until she made you unlucky. This hits a sore spot.
Gabriella looks away.
She gathers the folder, rises. INT.
EUROPEAN HOTEL ROOM - DAY
Gabriella strides in.
Sets down her bags.
The safe door opens. Gabriella loads in her bricks of money and jewelry into the safe. Championship bracelets, diamond rings, a rare watch. The door closes. INT. EXCLUSIVE EUROPEAN CASINO CLUB - NIGHT BOUNCERS open the red doors. Gabriella strides through. She sets up at her VIP station, bar service already prepared. Feeling no pain, she joins the CROWD on the dance floor. The beat THUMPS around her, a GUY draws close to her and for the time, she forgets about her troubles. INT. EUROPEAN HOTEL ROOM - NIGHT Gabriella and the GUY stumble into the room. He tries to slide her clothes off, but she is laughing, trying to slow things down.
All-In
Joy Kecken
12/19/13
8.
GABRIELLA Wait... (pulls away from his kiss) Gimme a second. She sits him down on the edge of the bed. GABRIELLA (CONT’D) Gotta do something before my game tomorrow. The guy doesn’t care.
He starts to undress.
GABRIELLA (CONT’D) (over her shoulder) Undress slower. Gabriella forces herself to focus on her little altar near the window. Sage is burnt in a shell... Pictures of ancestors/family members are placed on her makeshift altar... Candles are lit... A glass of water for libations is poured and set next to the photos... Then she catches a glimpse of her sister’s photo lit by candlelight. This is Elise. The sight of her causes Gabriella to swallow. FLASHBACK -YOUNG ELISE (7), who we recognize from the altar picture, and GABRIELLA (9), dash through the wheat field after each other. The sisters are racing. Their MOTHER, bracelets JANGLING, who resembles the ghost that haunts Gabriella, dashes ahead of them, laughing. INT. 1992 WORLD SERIES OF POKER - DAY Young Gabriella (22) protectively waves away the intrusive REPORTERS and CAMERAS as Young Elise (21) tries to pull away from the final table to have a private word with her sister. They huddle amongst the CHAOS.
All-In
Joy Kecken
12/19/13
9.
YOUNG ELISE No matter what happens, we won’t let this game come between us? YOUNG GABRIELLA I promise. (squeezes Elise’s hand) Don’t play with any fear. Take them all out. Eyes on the prize. Okay? (firm) Okay.
YOUNG ELISE
Gabriella gives her a confident smile before turning to the CAMERAS, clearly the favorite. Elise hasn’t taken her eyes off Gabriella, who is clearly in her crosshairs, LIGHTS FLASHING around them. BACK TO PRESENT -Gabriella bends over, suddenly sick, clutching her head up. She waves the half-naked guy away... EXT. BEACH HOTEL/BAHAMAS - DAY The WHITE LIGHTS bleed into the white sand. Gabriella walks along the beach as the signage for the tournament is removed along the lampposts. ANNOUNCER (V.O.) Knocked out on the first day of the WSOP qualifier... She’s had a long drought on the circuit, but... there was a time Gabriella Janeway ruled the felt. She stares out at the wide expanse of the aquamarine blue. INT.
MIAMI HOTEL ROOM/CASINO - NIGHT
Gabriella gets her wake-up call. Groggy, she notices a mystery MAN in bed beside her, swats at him to get out. He slinks away. The safe reopens. Gabriella takes out her jewelry, preparing to play. She delicately touches the picture of her mother.
All-In
Joy Kecken
12/19/13
10.
GABRIELLA Mother, what have I done to deserve this? What am I doing wrong? (beat) Why have you left me? The silence is deafening. everything off the altar.
Fighting tears, she sweeps
The destruction piles around her. INT. MIAMI POKER TOURNAMENT - DAY Again, she doesn’t even come near striking distance of winning. Mostly full room and Gabriella is the first out at her table. Over the scoreboard, her name appears near the bottom. She looks up at it, soaking that in. fucking field.
The bottom of the
She exits with little fanfare or notice. INT.
WORLD SERIES STUDIOS/VEGAS - DAY
The walls are covered with banners of the World Series champions from the previous years. In the 1990’s, Gabriella’s picture hangs among the gallery of champions. On the set, Gabriella sits across from the ubiquitous poker announcer, NORM CHAD, during the interview. NORM CHAD When you went head-to-head with your sister, Elise, did you ever want to get up and leave? GABRIELLA Sure. But then I had to say to myself pretty early on that I was going to ignore the sibling part and just go for the rivalry. NORM CHAD How are you two now? GABRIELLA That game affects us to this day.
All-In
Joy Kecken
12/19/13
11.
NORM CHAD Is Elise a bit of a recluse now? GABRIELLA (evasive) I’ve learned it’s best to not play friends and family. I’m too competitive. He is pleased with this. Signals for a wrap. Reality JOLTS back in as all the SET ACTIVITY reveals itself. SOUND GUYS appear and takes off their mics. Norm walks Gabriella away from the interview set. NORM CHAD Great interview. I never expected you to agree to that. Thank you. He headnods to Elise’s banner. A 1993 banner, a picture of Elise Janeway, hangs next to Gabriella’s 1992 win. Gabriella’s eyes follow his gaze. NORM CHAD (CONT’D) The two of you will be the talk of the town again. GABRIELLA I need to ask you for a favor, Norm. For an introduction. On Norm, all ears. INT.
FOYER/MODERN OFFICES/VEGAS - DAY
Gabriella walks towards LOU FARRIS, 40s, sharp, who can’t take his eyes off her. He extends his hand and Gabriella clasps his hand in hers, as they access each other. GABRIELLA Lou Farris? LOU Champ. (off her look) We can’t always be hard-wired to remember the losses. Have to celebrate the wins. GABRIELLA (softer) Absolutely.
All-In INT.
Joy Kecken
12/19/13
CONFERENCE ROOM/MODERN OFFICES - DAY
Gabriella sits next to Lou. GABRIELLA I’m not sure if I really need your services... I’m, uh... (half-smiles) Finding my footing with all these internet phenoms. I had an early success, but now, it’s a whole new game. LOU You bent a few rules when you broke on the scene. Gabriella nods, flattered. LOU (CONT'D) I was amazed at your level of play during your championship game. Do you still wear your bracelet? Gabriella meets his gaze, nods. LOU (CONT’D) That’s the first thing I’d show folks at the table. Just to set the tone. Show ‘em who’s champ. Gabriella notices the thick file he has on her. GABRIELLA How can I win again? LOU I coach a lot of poker players. I’ve seen plenty of great games. But what happens is the personal informs the professional life. I need you to be honest. Drug use?... Alcohol?... Money problems?... Divorce? No.
GABRIELLA
Lou assesses her. LOU Family issues?
12.
All-In
...No.
Joy Kecken
12/19/13
13.
GABRIELLA
He looks at her. LOU I’m sure everyone asks you about your sister. Will there ever be a rematch? She laughs. LOU (CONT’D) What about for fun? If we were to set up a private game -GABRIELLA She keeps to herself these days. Lou weighs this. LOU Do you need water? Gabriella grows uncomfortable by the ghost-like question, nods. Lou leaves the room. Gabriella sits for a long beat and then... She can’t take it anymore. INT.
Bolts out of the room.
HALLWAY/MODERN OFFICE - CONTINUOUS
Gabriella tries to time her exit while Lou’s back is still turned in the break room, pouring water from a pitcher. Behind her a SECRETARY crosses to her desk. scrambles away so she’s not seen.
Gabriella
Gabriella ducks into another office as Lou walks past her. Lou stutter-steps. Looks back. In the nick of time, Gabriella makes it back into the conference room. He approaches the conference room. Gabriella sitting inside.
The door opens to reveal
LOU If you would start at the beginning for me, that would be great.
All-In
Joy Kecken
12/19/13
14.
Gabriella gives him a weak smile. FLASHBACK TO -EXT.
HOME GAME - 1991 - NIGHT
A young Gabriella (22) smiles at her sister, Elise (21), charming the hell out of the male, Southern PLAYERS. Gabriella eliminates them one by one. She has her shark tooth charm out and she assesses the remaining players with a laser-eyed stare. HANK “SHAMROCK” CASTLE takes notice. His head turns from one side to the other, trying to keep up with all the PLAYERS getting to their feet. Gabriella even takes out her sister. Hank approaches Elise. HANK Where’d you learn to play like that? YOUNG ELISE You ever play biz wiz? (off his nod) I’m the queen of biz wiz. HANK I bet... So is that your Irish twin or are you just friends? Elise laughs. Sisters.
YOUNG ELISE
Around them, the MEN APPLAUD as Gabriella takes down the LAST PLAYER. HANK Have you two ever played in a casino tournament before? INT.
DINER - 1991 - DAY
Hank sits across from Gabriella and Elise.
All-In
Joy Kecken
12/19/13
HANK The best players, within one minute, will sit down at the table and know everyone’s tell. YOUNG ELISE Picks it up just like that? HANK Has their entire life history like that. Is in perfect control of everybody. This lands on Gabriella. HANK (CONT'D) It’s rare to find that skill in most players, and that’s why it’s so hard for them to win big. YOUNG GABRIELLA Well, you’ve come to the right place. You are in the presence of greatness. HANK Cockiness usually works against players. What works best in this game is to stay even keel. With nothing to prove. Most players can’t keep their egos in check though. And that’s where I come in. Now he has her attention. HANK (CONT'D) I think you’re a pretty good player, that with time and practice, I can make great. Young Elise considers her sister, who takes this in. HANK (CONT'D) Poker’s a game that requires more than taking someone’s chips away. Anyone can do that. A great player, a champion, breaks down other people over time. Leaves nothing to chance. Sticks to a strategy. Makes the other player knock himself out of the game. Until he has nothing left. Let alone his dignity.
15.
All-In She is mesmerized.
Joy Kecken
12/19/13
16.
Hank goes in to close the deal.
HANK (CONT’D) You like to travel? Because a champ has to love the inside of a hotel room. YOUNG GABRIELLA I don’t go anywhere without my sister. HANK That’s good, ‘cause we gotta go in teams. Bleed out the chump at the table. (recovers) Elise’ll play a huge part. There’s this game we’ll play at first. The game of collusion. Elise looks at Gabriella. INT.
HOTEL/CASINO - NIGHT
Gabriella looks across at Elise. This is the dumpy side of Vegas, but still, it’s Vegas. And for two country girls, the big time. Hank checks-in at the front desk. HANK (O.S.) Get comped for a nice room with a view of the strip. INT.
HOTEL ROOM/CASINO - NIGHT
Gabriella stands at the sliding glass door, looking out at the view. Elise steps behind her, soaking it in. A tiny beat, before they start jumping up and down, SQUEALING, thrilled to be here. HANK (O.S.) People say Vegas is a party town. But they’re wrong. Vegas is about business. How much money can be made off a bunch of drunks. You can party on your own time. Never forget we’re here to work. INT.
POKER ROOM/CASINO - NIGHT
Gabriella takes a seat at the table first.
All-In
Joy Kecken
12/19/13
17.
HANK (O.S.) Straight up, you read the person you want to go after. The one you think you can control. Gabriella’s eyes scan people at the table, computing. Her eyes fall and settle on a MEEK MAN. Team up.
HANK (O.S.) (CONT’D) Look the guy in his eyes.
Elise takes a seat next to him, leans close. glorious Elise smile.
Smiles that
HANK (O.S.) (CONT’D) Jack him up so the guy next to him wins and gets him on the ropes. Elise throws a lot of chips in. HANK (O.S.) (CONT’D) Elise keeps reeling him in, raising the stakes, goading him into betting more. She’s going to set the table for you so that you’ve got all the power. Pull in as many chips as you can... A mound of chips are in the center of the table. Gabriella considers her cards, a pair of Aces. She reluctantly tosses her chips in. Finally Elise tosses in her All-In button. calls. Gabriella calls.
The meek player
DEALER Three players. Show ‘em. Elise shows suited connectors. sucker who just got punked:
Explains to the unknowing
ELISE I was chasing that flush. HANK (O.S.) And you come in and take the pot down. All the chips swing Gabriella’s way. She is smiling, in her element.
Again and again.
All-In
Joy Kecken
12/19/13
18.
Elise stares across the table at Gabriella, who relishes in the attention, the congratulatory ritual, the confidence winning inspires. Elise has to look away, silent, solemn, soaking in that she doesn’t like this game very much. INT.
DINER - 1991 - DAY HANK Tag-team never loses. But first we have to build your bank.
Gabriella shares a look with him, nods. understand each other.
The two sharks
BACK TO PRESENT -INT.
GUY SAVOY RESTAURANT/VEGAS - NIGHT
Gabriella sits across from Lou, charmed. LOU That’s how you got your start -cheating at the table with your sister. GABRIELLA Every pro’s done it to some capacity. Lance Armstrong’s the worst. The Patriots have it down to a science. But I’m honest about it and that makes me an asshole. No...
LOU
GABRIELLA I know what they say about me. But that’s how I learned how to play. LOU Your sister was the key to your game. No.
GABRIELLA
LOU You don’t think so? Gabriella shrugs, dismissive.
All-In
Joy Kecken
12/19/13
19.
GABRIELLA I think I’ve proved I’m a great player, with or without her. LOU So have you ever taken the puzzle apart? What makes a player great? GABRIELLA You have to dedicate your whole heart to winning. Nothing else can stand in your way. Nothing?
LOU
GABRIELLA Anything else is a distraction. I’m at the table from eleven in the morning til one at night. Every day. I love the game. You have to love it with everything you’ve got. LOU Spoken like a true champion. They share a smile. LOU (CONT’D) That’s why I want to help you. GABRIELLA I don’t think that’s what you want. INT.
BEDROOM/GABRIELLA’S PENTHOUSE - NIGHT
Gabriella lowers Lou onto the bed in a passionate kiss. She is caught up in the moment. INT.
He is caught up in her.
GABRIELLA’S PENTHOUSE - DAY
Gabriella slides onto a barstool around the kitchen island while Lou serves her breakfast. She pours herself a glass of water. LOU When do you go back on the circuit? GABRIELLA A couple of days. Not looking forward to it.
All-In
Why?
Joy Kecken
12/19/13
LOU
GABRIELLA It’s not easy going home. LOU But you’ll see your family? GABRIELLA Probably not... Why not?
LOU
GABRIELLA I don’t have the time or the energy for relationships. And they don’t seem to have time for me. LOU So who do you hang out with? GABRIELLA Degenerates mostly. I know what to expect with them. It’s easy. Quick. (off his look) Besides, I have to focus now. I can’t let anything get in the way of what I need to do this year. LOU So what does that mean for us? GABRIELLA It means I don’t have time for anything serious. A beat.
It is very quiet in the room. LOU You’re getting everything you need from a card game?
The way he says it makes Gabriella uncomfortable. LOU (CONT’D) Gabriella, nothing’s stopping you from having it all. But you have to make some room for it. Call me when you’re ready to celebrate that.
20.
All-In
Joy Kecken
12/19/13
21.
Lou leaves as Gabriella reels. INT.
BATHROOM/GABRIELLA’S PENTHOUSE - NIGHT
Gabriella sits in the tub, up to her neck in water, trying to relax. Unadorned, she looks scared, raw. We PULL BACK to REVEAL the HAUNTING FIGURE standing behind her, ABOUT TO LUNGE. INT.
POKER ROOM/LAS VEGAS CASINO - NIGHT
Gabriella stares at the table as the DEALER scoops up her last stack of chips and gives them to a WINNING PLAYER. Pissed, she tosses her crap cards at the players’s face. player is outraged at her unsportsmanlike behavior.
The
The TABLE crowds around the two, to keep them apart, with everyone taking the WINNING PLAYER’s side. Refusing to apologize, Gabriella is escorted out. She closes her eyes. EXT.
How did it get to this point?
PLANE - DAY
As it takes off from Vegas. EXT.
CASINO/MARRERO, LA - DAY
The tower of a casino bookmarked at one end; the palms of a suburban community at the other. EXT.
VALET/CASINO - DAY
An older but content Hank greets Gabriella as she exits her town car. HANK Welcome home. Gabriella draws him close. GABRIELLA Have you seen Elise lately?
All-In
Joy Kecken
12/19/13
22.
HANK I invite her to the Ladies’ Classic every year. She doesn’t come out of her house for much. GABRIELLA She has to come out sometime. Hank looks after her as she heads inside. INT.
GABRIELLA’S PENTHOUSE SUITE/HANK’S CASINO - DAY
Gabriella lies in bed. She reaches for her phone and selects Lou’s name. But she can’t bring herself to call. She takes a beat, alone, then forces herself to climb out of bed. A sense of defeat clinging to her very bones. INT.
CASINO FLOOR/HANK’S CASINO - DAY
In the midst of the CROWD, we FOLLOW a pair of killer pumps. The snakeskin leather wrap dress. The jewelry, of course. Gabriella is dressed to the nines and ready for action. A small CROWD has gathered around a table near the highroller action. Two PLAYERS are taken out at once. The table goes WILD. Gabriella gives it a quick glance, but strides inside: INT. HIGH-ROLLER ROOM/HANK’S CASINO - DAY Gabriella enters a much calmer, luxurious, intimate room. She takes a seat at the table, where eight players, all LOUD and ROWDY MEN, drink and smoke cigars and nosh on lobster tacos, Angus beef sliders, the best food money doesn't have to buy. The men immediately take notice of Gabriella. Gabriella assesses them, the power of her sexuality coming off in waves, until her eyes land on a HANDSOME PLAYER with an empty seat next to him. He is young and virile enough and will amuse her for awhile.
All-In
Joy Kecken
12/19/13
The air has become charged with her presence. forgotten.
23.
The game is
There is a woman at the table and what is even more unusual... everyone knows she can play. A few of the older players rise to pay their respects to her. A poker celebrity is in their midst. They fawn over Gabriella -- shaking her hand, kissing her rings and complimenting her on various tournaments she's played. Even the younger ones at the table ask for her autograph. She is the queen sitting at court. Gabriella settles everyone down to play, but word has spread of her arrival. FANS stand outside the narrow windows, trying to get a peek of her. She unzips her LV purse and gives the dealer several stacks of cash. He puts chips in front of her. She pulls out her lucky charm -- her card holder, the shark's tooth. A mimosa and an eggs benedict tray are placed at her side. Gorgeous, half-dressed WAITRESSES and MASSAGE THERAPISTS flutter around the table. Again, through the tiny windows in the room, she can see the WILD TABLE in the main area getting excited again. Even her fans turn away to see what’s happening there. She is startled when her hunk of a neighbor tries to get her attention: GABRIELLA’S NEIGHBOR Can I see your bracelet? GABRIELLA Yes, you may. Gabriella exposes her wrist and reveals the championship bracelet. A lot of necks at the table crane to see it, even though they are trying to act casual. Her neighbor even licks his lips.
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24.
Total silence. The energy in the entire room is sucked toward the bracelet. Lou’s right. It’s a game-changer. The DEALER leans forward and deals cards to Gabriella. Even in the enclosed space of the high-roller room, the OOHS and AAAHS from outside come through. Gabriella, distracted, looks over. From her POV: A YOUNG WOMAN, who reminds us of a younger version of Gabriella, is on fire. OUTSIDE THE HIGH-ROLLER ROOM: The table has gathered around the young woman and her THREE OPPONENTS are standing. The three men are eliminated, and stalk off. Gabriella’s focus has shifted and the attractive man at her side turns to find that she’s gone. INT.
MAIN POKER ROOM/HANK’S CASINO - DAY
Gabriella wades into the CROWD, trying to get a peek of this game, but doesn’t get far. Too many people are craning their necks to see this game. At the table sits CLAIRE THOMPSON, 18, ready for the world. Claire’s back is to Gabriella, who does not get a good look at her face. Action to Claire. Claire pushes her chips all-in. The CROWD CHEERS. The DEALER considers her stack. OPPONENT covered.
In comparison, she has her
Gabriella looks at the opponent, who comes off as a card shark himself. She looks at little Claire, as cute as a button. Perplexed, she watches as: The dealer throws the All-In chip next to Claire’s stack. Show ‘em.
DEALER
Claire flips over her hand of shit. his Ace-King. The CROWD ERUPTS.
A pair of twos against
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25.
The rest of the room cranes their necks to get a peek of the game. Even Gabriella snakes closer to the table for a better look, her FANS parting the way to give her room. The Ace-King doesn’t stand up. Claire wins.
No match comes on the board.
Gabriella watches as Claire’s opponent gathers his things to walk out. Not his night. A pile of chips swing over to Claire. At the table, Claire has to endure some trash talk. PLAYER #1 You called with that shit? lucky, little girl. I’m sorry.
Very
CLAIRE
As her opponent heads out, he bends over and whispers in her ear. PLAYER #2 You lose all my chips, you can come up to my room, go down on your knees and really earn that money. Gabriella stops him before he can breeze out the room. GABRIELLA Easy, tiger. You may wake up tomorrow and not be able to walk if you keep talking like that. They share a look. He notices the SECURITY GUARDS gathering around. Checked, he moves past. Claire doesn’t hear this exchange, clearly thrown by his words. The rest of the men around the table assess Claire, determining if she can take the heat. Claire looks at the remaining players at her table defiantly. And they leer back. Claire stares at the table in front of her, reeling. blindly raises Player #3’s bet.
She
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26.
PLAYER #3 Did you even look at your cards? PLAYER #3 considers her raise and how the chips in the middle of the table have piled up significantly. MORE PEOPLE are drawn to the table. unnoticed. All eyes are on Claire.
Gabriella goes
Claire realizes she made an impulsive bet. CLAIRE Let’s gamble. Jesus. Fucking ballsy move. The Player sneers at her, pushes his chips in the center of the table. All-in. PLAYER #3 You got nothing. Anyone in their right mind would trust what he was saying. And we all sense there’s blood in the water. That Claire is on tilt, emotionally riled from what that player said to her. Claire takes a read on him, Spidey senses tingling. Gabriella clocks the time she’s taking, the way Claire’s eyes laser in on him. Claire pushes her pile of chips in to challenge his All-In. He flips over his King-Jack suited. Face cards, but no pair. Claire sees her cards for the first time. A pair of nines. Very lucky. He missed matching his cards to the community board completely. Claire’s pair stands. Player #3 has lost his capacity to breathe. Claire’s win lands at the table to stunned silence. PLAYER #3 (CONT’D) That was the best hand I got all night. I’m sorry.
CLAIRE
He rises from the table, bitterly. Gabriella doesn’t take her eyes off of Claire, close enough now to reach out to her...
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27.
Claire glances from Gabriella’s hand on her wrist to Gabriella’s face. GABRIELLA Don’t ever apologize for winning. CLAIRE Nice pumps, Auntie G. Gabriella, taken aback, absorbs Claire’s face, finally recognizing her. Claire?
GABRIELLA
Claire smiles at her. GABRIELLA (CONT’D) Look at you. All grown up. (shaken) Walk with me. Now?
CLAIRE
Claire looks from her chip stack to Gabriella, stunned. But the look Gabriella gives her silences that. Now.
GABRIELLA
Claire has no choice. Gabriella already has her by the elbow. Claire watches her chips and the crowd disappear. INT. ENTRANCE/HANK’S CASINO - NIGHT Gabriella guides Claire to the front entrance. GABRIELLA Your mother know you’re in here night after night? Claire glares back at her. GABRIELLA (CONT’D) I know Elise. Maybe she’s distracted -CLAIRE That’s an understatement --
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28.
GABRIELLA You’re supposed to respect your mother. And for that matter, your deadbeat dad too. CLAIRE I’m eighteen now. And I don’t need anyone’s permission to be in here. (proud) Did’ja see my game? (has her own response) Pure brilliance. GABRIELLA For me, it’s always fifty-fifty. You either win, or you lose... Brilliance is in the long haul. How your game holds up over time. Play me. tonight.
CLAIRE See how we ante up
Gabriella looks at her, amused.
Who is this kid?
GABRIELLA I’m taking you home, little girl. EXT.
VALET/CASINO - NIGHT
Gabriella and Claire stand outside at valet, staring at the night sky. A few of Gabriella’s bags are piled behind them. Claire shakes her head. CLAIRE You think I’m going to get an earful. Wait ‘til she sees you. As Gabriella considers this, it gives her the slightest pause. But Claire’s car has pulled up. They get in. EXT.
JANEWAY HOUSE - NIGHT
The Honda Fit PULLS UP to the driveway of the Janeway House, the nucleus of one American dream. INT.
HONDA FIT - NIGHT
Gabriella takes in the house. on. Claire is nervous too.
The motion lights have come
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29.
GABRIELLA Let me give this to you now, before it gets complicated. Gabriella reaches inside one of her small bags. Claire's eyes widen at the sight of Gabriella’s jewelry box. Gabriella selects one of the pieces -- the rare watch. isn’t wrapped, but Claire can see it’s a true gift.
It
GABRIELLA (CONT’D) Happy belated birthday. It’s something I’ve had since I was eighteen. Seems right to give it to you now. Claire peeks inside the box, looks with wonder at her aunt. GABRIELLA (CONT’D) It was your grandmother’s. Something to remember her by. She always said it should be a reminder of what not to waste. Claire clasps it around her wrist. I love it.
CLAIRE Thank you.
She throws her arms around Gabriella’s neck, who doesn’t know how to process all of Claire’s emotions. EXT.
JANEWAY HOUSE - NIGHT
Gabriella steps out of the car, staring up at the house. Claire climbs out too, her eyes fixed on Gabriella. INT.
FOYER/JANEWAY HOUSE - NIGHT
ELISE JANEWAY, 38, Claire prime, with the same nervous energy, has opened the door, anticipating only Claire. Her gaze falls on Gabriella for a beat longer. ELISE This is a surprise. She clearly doesn’t like surprises. Claire gathers the two in a bear hug.
Neither move.
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30.
Pressed against Claire’s neck, the two sisters assess each other. ELISE (CONT’D) You haven’t changed a bit... GABRIELLA Good to see you too. Claire clears her throat. CLAIRE We can take this inside. ELISE You’re coming inside? Of course.
CLAIRE
Claire looks back at Gabriella still standing in the doorway. Gabriella shoots Claire a look. Come in.
CLAIRE (CONT’D)
Elise hasn’t given her blessing, but Gabriella crosses the threshold. Elise steals a glance at Gabriella’s profile as she strides past her. INT.
FOYER/ELISE'S MCMANSION - DAY
Gabriella and Elise stand across from each other. This is as far as this is going. Claire slinks off. Once she’s gone: GABRIELLA I found her at a card table. Hank’s casino.
In
Elise doesn’t respond. GABRIELLA (CONT’D) You need help finding a switch? Elise shakes her head, pitying Gabriella. ELISE You clearly don’t have children.
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GABRIELLA You know damn well what goes on at Hank’s casino. God knows what else she’s up to. Elise stares her down. GABRIELLA (CONT’D) What do you want me to do, Elise? Get down on my knees and beg you to forgive me. It was different then. They said there was only room for one female champion. And I should’ve fought for you, I know. You should’ve been at my side, playing the rooms, like champions do. If I could go back and make it right, don’t you think I would? Elise measures her response. ELISE You’re going to do whatever you want. You always do. Around the bend, we SEE Claire listening to them. GABRIELLA Everyone still asks about you. You could always come back. It would be huge, if you did. ELISE (a moment of clarity) You couldn’t get me to come near a casino if you paid me. They share a look.
Both are pained.
Gabriella exhales.
GABRIELLA If I could... help out with Claire’s college -ELISE You don’t know anything about her. And I certainly don’t need your money, Gabriella. Gabriella struggles to maintain. GABRIELLA I’m your sister, Elise.
31.
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ELISE No, I’m your competition. taught me that. Elise lurches to the door to open it.
12/19/13
32.
You Calm, in control.
ELISE (CONT’D) Stay away from us. Behind her, Claire has appeared, having heard everything. She assesses Gabriella. They share a look and Claire gives a slight nod of respect to her. Gabriella turns, passing Elise on her way out. INT.
HONDA FIT -- LATER
Gabriella sits in the car, gazing out the window, at the house. Forever the outsider. FLASHBACK -INT. FINAL TABLE/1992 WORLD SERIES OF POKER - NIGHT Young Gabriella and Elise sit across from each other at the final table. Gabriella grinds away, twirling a chip over her knuckles, short-stacked, considering calling an all-in bet that would blow her chances for the championship. She has a pair of Jacks. Elise has a pair of Queens. Elise waits out Gabriella’s decision, nervous as hell. ANNOUNCER (O.S.) Elise is not saying anything to her. But what does that tell Gabriella? She knows Elise’s game inside and out. It has to be infuriating for both of them. Gabriella is still grinding. her.
The FLOOR MAN puts a clock on
Gabriella watches Elise in silence. Elise is stoic.
Unreadable.
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33.
ANNOUNCER (O.S.) (CONT’D) This sibling rivalry has made for great TV. Gabriella's a crazy player. The queen of distraction. By the time the game's over, her opponents wanna have their heads examined. But there’s no question she’s the better player. If she makes this call, was it done out of emotion? Or is it an outright mistake? (off her call) It’s over for Gabriella... Gabriella doesn’t even flip her cards once she sees Elise’s Queens. She knows she fucked up. The broadcast has to BLEEP out her string of expletives. Her face crumbles. She manages a really angry smile, more disgusted with herself than anyone else. Elise is triumphant.
She wanted that win, needed it.
Gabriella cuts her eyes at Elise, rising. gaze is unmistakable.
The fury in her
Elise crosses over to embrace Gabriella before breaking away to take her moment in the spotlight. INT.
HALLWAY/CASINO -- NIGHT
Gabriella approaches Hank. She stops in her tracks and lets a withering look fall all over him. GABRIELLA You didn’t protect me out there. We SEE real fear register on Hank’s face. GABRIELLA (CONT'D) Our sponsors, our casino appearances, these fucking tournament invitations. I don’t appear next to her. HANK What are you saying? GABRIELLA She’s out, Hank. She rode on my coattails long enough. (MORE)
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GABRIELLA (CONT'D) Now that she’s got a bracelet, let her figure it out. You make sure of it or you can pack it up with her. Gabriella has him by the balls. INT. VIP SECTION/CLUB -- NIGHT Championship celebration. Young Elise holds up her trophy and displays her bracelet for everyone to see. Champagne toasts all around. Gabriella stands back from the crowd of WELL-WISHERS, her eyes fixed on Elise, trying to maintain. Elise sees her, rushes towards her. YOUNG GABRIELLA Congratulations, Champ. YOUNG ELISE You’re the champion, not me. YOUNG GABRIELLA (trying to maintain) Don’t... YOUNG ELISE It was a shocker, Gab, really. YOUNG GABRIELLA Don’t ever apologize for winning. YOUNG ELISE I wouldn’t be here if it weren’t for you. Gabriella pauses, but she can’t help herself: YOUNG GABRIELLA You lucked out. It happens. Elise’s jaw sets, taking it in the chin. control than Gabriella does.
She has more
YOUNG ELISE I never said I was better than you. They did. She chin-nods at the media-types and well-wishers around them. Gabriella and Elise exchange a look.
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A “prize” steps between them, a slick Romeo, a YOUNG MAN (soon to be Claire’s father) who is nothing but trouble. Gabriella introduces him to Elise -- Elise’s win interfering with being the protective older sister. On Elise, taking his hand, unprepared for the introduction that will change her life. BACK TO SCENE -INT./EXT.
HONDA FIT/CASINO ROAD -- LATER
Claire KNOCKS on the window, scaring the bejeezus out of Gabriella. GABRIELLA Is she asleep? CLAIRE No. She’s... awake. She doesn’t really keep track of when I come and go though. GABRIELLA Then let’s get out of here. Claire climbs in and drives away. world, staring out the window.
Gabriella is in her own
CLAIRE What you said back there... no one’s ever stood up to her before. (off her silence, then) No one ever stood up for me. Not her. Certainly not my father. Gabriella looks over at her. CLAIRE (CONT’D) She’s all I’ve known growing up. I didn’t know it should be any different. I was thinking I could go on the road with you. We could spend some time together -GABRIELLA Don’t you want to hang out with folks your own age? CLAIRE College isn’t for me. well. But poker. (MORE)
I don’t test
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36.
CLAIRE (CONT'D) Poker, I excel at. Some things are in your blood. (off Gabriella’s look) Look. I know this is your touring season. Last circuit to hit before the Big Game. All I’m asking is for you to let me tag along. I swear I won’t get in your way. I could even help... This lands on Gabriella.
Claire takes it the wrong way.
CLAIRE (CONT’D) You’re the champion, not me. I definitely need to learn from the best. GABRIELLA Your game is not my concern. Being on the road... you don’t know what you’re getting into. CLAIRE You and Momma did it. GABRIELLA That doesn’t make it right. The car has pulled up to the Valet entrance. CLAIRE Gabriella. Hank calls me a bulldozer on the felt. I know where I belong... GABRIELLA If Elise were in a place where she could handle it... She clocks Claire hanging on to her every word.
She has her.
GABRIELLA (CONT'D) If I knew she could handle you leaving... But she’s not... Gabriella and Claire share a look. the car.
Gabriella steps out of
A beat, and then she looks back at Claire, clocking that a seed has been planted...
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37.
POOL/ELISE’S MCMANSION - NIGHT
Claire walks along the pool’s edge, defeated, and reaches down for her mother’s hand. A loving moment as Elise’s hand grasps hers. Elise climbs out of the pool, cuts her eyes at Claire. ELISE What were you thinking? Bringing that snake into my house. (catches sight of watch) Did Gabriella give you that? Claire looks at her, uneasy. ELISE (CONT’D) ...Oma left the most beautiful pieces to her. And now it’s yours. Claire looks down at the watch on her wrist, her face stricken. CLAIRE She only wants you to let it go, Mommy. So do I. Elise considers this.
Claire rises and goes inside.
Elise watches Claire mixing drinks at the bar. INT.
KITCHEN/JANEWAY HOUSE - NIGHT
Two kir royales await on the marble kitchen island. approaches.
Elise
ELISE What else did she say to you? Claire shares a look with her mother. away to hide her emotion.
She turns her face
CLAIRE It’s what she said to Hank. Claire picks up her glass. To us.
Elise holds up hers.
CLAIRE (CONT’D) To family.
Elise takes in Claire CLINKING her glass against hers and sipping from it. She shifts, uncomfortable.
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38.
ELISE What did she say? CLAIRE She said that you’re very lucky. Claire drains her glass quickly. heads off.
She air kisses Elise, then
CLAIRE (CONT’D) Sweet dreams. Elise looks over her shoulder, her eyes following Claire as she heads to her room. INT.
CLAIRE’S ROOM/JANEWAY HOUSE - NIGHT
Claire takes off the watch and rests it on her nightstand, next to a treasured photo of her long lost father. The picture shows a SIX-YEAR-OLD CLAIRE on her FATHER’s lap, looking down at a pair of cards. She gazes at her valuables. INT.
ELISE'S BEDROOM/JANEWAY HOUSE - NIGHT
Elise's nightstand is covered with pill bottles and vitamins. Ambien, Xanax, every OTC sleep aid you can imagine, Tums, aspirin, Aleve, various supplements. Elise stalks in, plops down on a diagonal, hogging the bed, clearly used to sleeping alone. The TV pulses light. ONSCREEN -A news segment ends of a shark attacking folks on the beach. BACK TO SCENE -Elise can’t resist any longer and selects a program from her DVR. It’s the ESPN special featuring Gabriella. ON SCREEN --
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39.
There is a stock promotional shot of Gabriella, among the POKER GODS -- PHIL HELLMUTH, PHIL IVEY, DANIEL NEGREANU, ANTONIO ESFANDIARI, SCOTTY NGUYEN -- their wrists shimmering with the championship bracelets. NORM CHAD (O.S.) Only a few can claim to wear the bracelets. Gabriella Janeway is one of them. And then a recent shot of Gabriella looking glamorous next to the SLOUCHES at her table. The legend "Gabriella Janeway - World Series of Poker champion" appears on the crawl. Norm sits down for his interview with Gabriella. NORM CHAD (CONT’D) (to Gabriella) This was the game that defined your career. This lands on Gabriella.
She nods, cautious.
ON SCREEN -Footage appears from the 1992 World Series of Poker. Gabriella and Elise take a seat across from each other. We can see in Elise’s eyes that everything -- her pride and reputation -- are on the line. Gabriella sets down her shark’s tooth charm and KNOCKS her knuckles on the table. NORM CHAD (O.S.) (CONT’D) In a career defining moment, Gabriella crossed no ordinary opponent. She met her own sister head-to-head at the final table and had to make the choice to take her out. Only a few tables separate Elise and Gabriella, until it whittles down to one. A mic is stuck in Hank’s face as he stands in a hallway for a break.
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40.
HANK They only want to play each other. Gabriella wants to knock out Elise and Elise just wants to knock out Gabriella. Nothing else matters. And now they’ve got the match they wanted. NORM CHAD (O.S.) At the WSOP, with a championship and four million dollars at stake. GABRIELLA After a point, I could only sit back and watch. She outplayed me. Every card came her way. Every call was perfect. I underestimated how much she wanted to win that day. NORM CHAD (O.S.) It would be the last game Elise Janeway played. Many say the pressure to face her sister again was too much. BACK TO SCENE -At this lie, Elise throws her kir royale glass at the TV and shoves everything out of her way. Including the pill bottles. She steadies herself, catching a glimpse of herself a mirror. INT.
GABRIELLA’S PENTHOUSE SUITE/HANK’S CASINO - NIGHT
Gabriella sits in the corner of her room, in the dark, hoping it all plays out in her favor. There are no demons lurking this time. Just Gabriella working the play out in her mind. INT.
LADIES POKER CLASSIC/POKER ROOM/HANK’S CASINO - DAY
WOMEN stream in for a Ladies Poker Tournament, featuring some of the best female poker players around: ANNIE DUKE, XUAN LIU, VANESSA ROUSSO, JENNIFER HARMON. An empty seat remains at the table of celebrities and CIVILIANS. The tournament begins. ANNIE DUKE Anyone seen Gabriella?
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41.
VANESSA ROUSSO She didn’t even have to bother showing up. I already knocked her out. Dayum.
XUAN LIU
JENNIFER HARMON I’d hate to hear what you say about me when I get up from the table. Claire plops down casually in Gabriella’s seat. greeted with silence. The sharks take her in.
She is
ANNIE DUKE Are you sure you’re at the right seat? I’m sure.
CLAIRE
She sets down her seat card. look.
The celebrities exchange a
Claire smiles nervously at them. A SERIES OF CUTS -Claire begins taking the PLAYERS at her table out, one by one. The celebrities are impressed. XUAN LIU (to Claire) Who are you again? CLAIRE Gabriella Janeway’s niece. Claire Thompson.
Claire.
The POKER CELEBRITIES take her measure. CLAIRE (CONT’D) You know Gabriella? JENNIFER HARMON We all play against each other. Vanessa shoots Xuan an amused look. LATER --
Claire swallows.
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ANNIE DUKE (to Jennifer) You said this was going to be easy. They glance at their short chip stacks. Even Vanessa Rousso can’t stop Claire. They are in the hand together, head-to-head. Vanessa has gone All-In. In short order, she’s knocked out. Vanessa nods at Claire, respectfully. VANESSA ROUSSO You are related to Gabriella. done.
Well
JENNIFER HARMON Vanessa’s pleasant enough now. will cut you next time.
She
She rises.
VANNESSA ROUSSO Don’t listen to these bitches. She heads out, shaking hands with the table on the way. The table gets very quiet as Claire’s chip stack grows. Jennifer and Xuan realize they’re next. In short order, they are sent packing. Annie Duke is down to a handful of chips. In the next hand, Claire takes those too. rueful smile and rises.
Annie gives a
Annie weaves through the tables and her eyes land on Gabriella, who has been watching the whole time. She crosses over to her. ANNIE DUKE Why didn’t you sit with us? GABRIELLA I wanted to switch out seats. (headnods at Claire) See what you think of her.
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43.
ANNIE DUKE Gabriella Janeway, is that you? I think this is the first time you’ve ever asked me about poker. GABRIELLA I’ve never had to. Annie smiles.
Gabriella bows her head slightly.
GABRIELLA (CONT’D) I can’t help myself, Annie. They understand each other. ANNIE DUKE I know you can’t. Annie takes in Claire. ANNIE DUKE (CONT’D) She kicked my ass. I’d feel like cold shit if it was only me, but she’d kicked everyone else’s too. Never seen anything like it. GABRIELLA You don’t think you can beat her? ANNIE DUKE She’s unbeatable. Annie strides off.
Gabriella weighs this.
Gabriella crosses over to Claire’s table and sits down next to her. Claire takes her in, forgetting the game. GABRIELLA You knocked out Annie Duke. lot in my book. Luck.
Says a
CLAIRE
GABRIELLA Luck is good. Talent and luck are golden. And then there is that something you can’t put a price on. Claire considers this, no longer interested in the game. Gabriella indicates the exit and they head towards it.
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44.
PROMENADE/CASINO - DAY
Gabriella walks underneath the signage for the upcoming satellite hanging from the rafters. Claire lingers beside her. CLAIRE You saw me in there. Gabriella nods.
Claire’s talent is undeniable.
GABRIELLA What about Elise? CLAIRE It’s my call now. Gabriella soaks this in.
Claire’s serious.
CLAIRE (CONT’D) I’m leaving to qualify for the championship. I don’t need her permission. GABRIELLA You have no idea what you’re getting yourself into. EXT.
ROOF PARKING LOT/CASINO - DAY
Gabriella has walked Claire to her car. GABRIELLA Less than three weeks is the next big tournament in St. Louis. If you survive there, you automatically get qualified into the World Series. It would pay your way to Vegas. This lands on Claire. GABRIELLA (CONT’D) Your bank is what gives you the edge. And it needs to multiply over the weeks, even before St. Louis. The side action during the tournament is where it’s at. Claire considers her.
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45.
GABRIELLA (CONT’D) If... and it’s a big one, if we travelled together, I put up all the money for buy-ins, gas, food, lodging. I make all the introductions. Whatever you earn, I take seventy percent. CLAIRE (swallows) No family discount? GABRIELLA I’m not your mother, Claire. I’m not even going to be your aunt, except the one I play for the cameras on TV. I’m the CEO of my brand. It is critical that you follow my lead. As I have much more to lose than you. Claire weighs this.
She looks at Gabriella, needing this.
CLAIRE I know a woman who was friends with Oma’s. When Oma was dying, she helped her make the transition. Gabriella looks away, pained. when she passed.
She wasn’t around for her mom
CLAIRE (CONT'D) She’ll make it where Mom won’t take it so hard. INT.
HONDA FIT - DAY
Claire guides Elise out of the house. car.
They climb into the
Claire starts the engine, Elise rides shotgun. As Claire pulls out of the driveway, Elise notices parked on the street an out-of-place, high-end, luxury car. A silver bullet TESLA with oxblood seats. An unsettled feeling clouds Elise face. ELISE Where exactly are we going? She looks over her shoulder.
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46.
PULL BACK TO REVEAL Gabriella in the backseat, much to Elise’s shock. Claire PEELS out of the driveway. EXT.
HIGHWAY - DAY
The car speeds along, approaching the skyline of New Orleans. INT.
HONDA FIT - DAY
Elise looks at the passing blocks of the Seventh Ward, another depressed neighborhood still showing the scars from Katrina. ELISE Where are you taking me? GABRIELLA A mediation. We need to talk, Elise. ELISE I have nothing to say to you. GABRIELLA That’s what the Mediator is for. You can say it to someone else. Claire idles at a stop sign, ignoring her mother as much as she can, waiting for directions from the back seat. Elise also addresses the back seat. ELISE You show up for one day and you think you have all the answers. Claire catches Gabriella’s look in the rearview mirror. Gabriella takes in the surroundings. right.
A cemetery is to their
IN THE CEMETERY: The SPIRIT WOMAN stands on top of the hill, her wild eyes locked on Gabriella. Gabriella looks away, swallowing, catching Claire sensing her fear. The car starts moving again. The cemetery blends into the wheat field. Elise tries to blink away the memory.
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47.
FLASHBACK TO -The young Elise and Gabriella dashing through the wheat field after each other. They are racing. Young Elise is about to overtake Gabriella and they begin grabbing at each other’s arm, pulling each other back. Elise breaks free, sprints ahead, but she stumbles and Gabriella is gone. YOUNG ELISE No fair, Gabriella. You cheated. BACK TO SCENE -ELISE (under her breath) Run away, like you always do. Claire looks over at Elise. EXT.
ANOTHER BLOCK/SEVENTH WARD - DAY
More run-down homes.
Voodoo shops abound.
Claire takes her eyes off the road, as she catches a glimpse of a WOMAN, her long dreads snaking down her back, dressed as a priestess, walking down the sidewalk. Their eyes meet. The blocks become a blur.
Elise holds up her head, dizzy.
FLASHBACK -EXT.
HANK’S SUITE OF OFFICES - DAY
Elise strides in, standing over Hank at his desk. ELISE No one is talking to me, Hank. sponsors, the casinos --
The
HANK They’re sticking with Gabriella. He can’t look at her.
She gets thisclose to his face.
ELISE But I won, Hank. She knows if I beat her once, I could do it again. (MORE)
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ELISE (CONT'D) And you still think she’s better than me? No answer. ELISE (CONT’D) You think she’s the better player? He doesn’t answer. Coward.
She SPITS in his face. ELISE (CONT’D)
She turns on her heel. ELISE (CONT’D) Where is she? She storms through the suite of offices, hunting for Gabriella. ELISE (CONT’D) You gonna do me this way? even tell me yourself?
And not
The WORKERS in the office don’t move. Is she about to snap? Gabriella scrambles behind a half-closed door, hides. And listens. Elise comes to a stop by the door that Gabriella is behind. She looks around at the cowering office workers in front of her. ELISE (CONT'D) There is a way to righteousness, but this place is cursed. Revelations says we will be judged one day. “The Angel shewed me a pure river of water of life, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb... Blessed are they that do His commandments, that they may enter in through the gates into the city. For without, are dogs and sorcerers and idolaters and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie.” Elise tilts her head ever so slightly towards the door that Gabriella’s behind. Gabriella senses Elise knows she’s there.
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ELISE (CONT’D) You can drown in this filth. It’s all yours. I never wanted it anyway. Elise walks out of the offices. Gabriella stays where she is, holding her breath. BACK TO PRESENT -EXT.
DESOLATE PARKING LOT - DAY
Sinister looking clouds, dilapidated shotgun houses border the dirt lot. Claire pulls the car into an empty space. CLAIRE We’re here. Elise refuses to move. CLAIRE (CONT’D) Mom, please, come with us. Elise looks over at her. Please. EXT.
CLAIRE (CONT’D)
EDGE OF SEVENTH WARD - DAY
DRUNK PATRONS spill out of a hole-in-the-wall bar. BLASTS from the door.
MUSIC
Gabriella and Elise follow closely behind Claire as she turns down a back alley. EXT.
HOUSE WITH GREEN GAS LIGHT OUT FRONT - DAY
No signage. KNOCKS.
Claire climbs up the stoop toward the door and
The door swings open. LILLIAN, the mediator/medium, mid-sixties, stylish, gives them a warm smile and beckons them inside. Elise, Claire and Gabriella file inside.
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LIVING ROOM/THE MEDIATOR’S HOUSE - DAY ELISE (to Gabriella) This is the Mediator? LILLIAN I’m Lillian. And it looks like you’re ready to get started.
Elise is dripping with sweat.
She meets Lillian’s gaze.
LILLIAN (CONT’D) Coming through that door is the hardest thing anyone can do. Elise tries to put on a brave face. LILLIAN (CONT’D) We can talk alone. Elise follows Lillian into the sun room. linger after her. INT.
Claire’s eyes
SUN ROOM/THE MEDIATOR’S HOUSE - DAY
Plants and trees fill the room with warmth. A large bowl of water rests on the table and sits between Lillian and Elise. LILLIAN It’s time to move on, Elise. Elise nods. LILLIAN (CONT’D) Haven’t you both suffered long enough? ELISE Gabriella hasn’t suffered at all. LILLIAN You never know what someone is going through. Who I meant were you and your daughter. Elise shakes her head, in denial. ELISE Everything is great between us. Lillian indicates a seat on the chaise lounge.
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LILLIAN I have some saltwater here. It helps clean the spleen. It also manages to soak up some tears and bitterness. Why not? else.
ELISE I’ve tried everything
Elise takes a seat. ELISE (CONT’D) It’ll be a clean sweep? LILLIAN Water under the bridge. Lillian stands over her and Elise closes her eyes. Lillian takes an olive branch and dips it in the water bowl. Drops of water splash onto Elise and we... SMASH TO ELISE STANDING ON THE SHORES OF THE BEACH -Water splashes around her. She stares at her feet as the water rises around her and the current drags her in. When she surfaces she is floating on her back, the clouds reflecting on the water around her. She is calm and steady, floating. INT.
LIVING ROOM/THE MEDIATOR’S HOUSE - NIGHT
Lillian enters, closing the door of the Sun Room behind her. Claire catches a glimpse of Elise sleeping on a chaise lounge. LILLIAN She’s resting. (to Claire) She’ll be able to handle it now. Lillian joins them on the couches. LILLIAN (CONT’D) You’ve had a long drive. Do you want anything? Claire is too nervous.
Gabriella declines for them.
GABRIELLA We’re good.
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LILLIAN Your heart’s been heavy. (headnods to Claire) Almost as heavy as hers. Claire looks up. CLAIRE We’re just here for my mom. LILLIAN Really? The spirit moves in a pretty obvious way. She chin-nods at Gabriella. LILLIAN (CONT’D) These visits that you’ve been receiving. Because she’s here now, you know. A dread comes over Gabriella. Lillian.
She shoots a warning look at
GABRIELLA I don’t know what you’re talking about. LILLIAN What it is is you don’t want to talk about it. You don’t want to face what you’ve done. And I can understand that. That’s a lot of guilt to carry around for such a long time. It will be hard to let it go. But she will meet you halfway. If you let her, Gabriella. Gabriella is stricken. Claire looks between Lillian and Gabriella and then Lillian levels her gaze at her. Lillian brings out the deck of tarot cards and sets it in front of Claire. Claire reaches her hand out.
It hovers over the deck.
Claire separates the cards into two even stacks. Lillian rearranges the two stacks into one deck and pulls the top card. A card with a woman with long, flowing hair and the third eye on her forehead is shown.
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LILLIAN (CONT’D) A lady of intuition. Sight. Destiny. Even Lillian is surprised by this. Claire, nods.
Lillian looks directly at
LILLIAN (CONT’D) Your grandmother’s gift... seeing what other’s cannot see, even for themselves... Claire soaks this in, nods.
They understand each other.
Gabriella looks over at Claire. Elise overhears this as she emerges from the Sun Room. Lillian places the queen card in the middle. Flips over another and places that to the right. She frowns. A crossroads. Two roads.
LILLIAN (CONT’D)
Lillian looks at the cards, confused. LILLIAN (CONT’D) A choice. The simple path or the faster path. (looks at Gabriella) Which one will you choose? Claire shares a look with Gabriella. Gabriella turns and sees Elise. stop Lillian.
Elise swallows.
But it’s too late, she can’t
Lillian reaches for the third card. LILLIAN (CONT’D) The death card. Elise inhales. Gabriella squeezes her eyes shut. taken a bad turn. ELISE What are you saying? die?
She could
LILLIAN (soothing) It signifies a new beginning. (MORE)
This has
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LILLIAN (CONT'D) Rebirth. A chance to make a better choice the second time around. Lillian levels her gaze at Gabriella. ELISE We should stop now. Elise.
GABRIELLA There are four more cards --
ELISE I’m her mother. And I said I don’t want this for my daughter. Claire looks between them.
Elise’s gaze is unwavering.
ELISE (CONT’D) No more cards. EXT.
THE MEDIATOR’S HOUSE - NIGHT
Claire, Elise and Gabriella spill out onto the street. toxic silence between them. EXT.
A
HONDA FIT - NIGHT
The car slows at the crosswalk where a WEDDING PARTY drifts in with the fog in the middle of the street. It is like a dream. The WOMEN wear lace high collars, long sleeves and gloves, carrying umbrellas as if from another era. The MEN in top hats and tails. They surround the car, laughing and kissing and tossing rice at each other. Inside the women are deadly silent. INT.
HONDA FIT - NIGHT
Claire looks straight ahead. takes in Claire, curious.
Gabriella, sitting in the back,
Elise’s eyes follow the BRIDE, dismayed. EXT.
COASTLINE HIGHWAY/INT. HONDA FIT - NIGHT
Claire approaches the bridge that is filled with brake lights.
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Gabriella and Elise have their faces turned in opposite directions. EXT.
BRIDGE - NIGHT
The car is stuck in traffic on the bridge. anywhere as the barges maneuver through. EXT.
Not moving
ELISE’S MCMANSION - NIGHT
The car pulls into the driveway. Parked on the street, a Tesla sits. Having been delivered for Gabriella. INT.
HONDA FIT - NIGHT
Claire goes inside the house while Gabriella and Elise remain inside the car. GABRIELLA How’d you feel? ELISE The clearest I’ve been in a long time. She looks ahead. ELISE (CONT'D) I forgave you. But most importantly, I forgave myself. Gabriella shakes her head, torn. ELISE (CONT’D) All we have is each other. That’s how it was, that’s how it should be. They share a look. ELISE (CONT’D) And I know you’ve been struggling on the felt. If you want me to help you... Gabriella closes her eyes.
It’s music to her ears and yet...
ELISE (CONT’D) I’m here for you, Gabriella. say the word.
Just
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The garage door begins to open. shoulder. Elise...
12/19/13
56.
Elise looks over her
GABRIELLA
Gabriella has her attention. ELISE You’re crying. GABRIELLA I never cry. Elise reaches out and wipes her cheek. Gabriella loses herself in the tenderness for a moment, keeps her hand against Elise’s. GABRIELLA (CONT’D) Claire’s going on the road with me. Elise shares a look with her, pulls her hand away. GABRIELLA (CONT’D) She’s a bulldozer, Elise. Hank even says so. Elise soaks this in.
Gabriella looks at her, with pity.
ELISE How do you put your head on the pillow at night and not think of about what you’re doing to people? Elise hears a commotion behind her and then glances over her shoulder. The garage is fully opened and Claire is rolling her bags behind her. Gabriella registers the pain in Elise’s eyes. Elise rushes out of the car and walks up to the garage. INT.
GARAGE/JANEWAY HOUSE - NIGHT
Elise reaches Claire coming out through the garage. ELISE You weren’t going to tell me you’re leaving? CLAIRE I can’t stay home and take care of you anymore.
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ELISE I never asked you to take care of me. Elise loses her composure. Her hand flies out to slap Claire’s face before she can stop herself. Claire meets her eyes for a beat. Claire...
ELISE (CONT’D)
Claire waits, but Elise can’t bring herself to apologize. Elise grabs Claire’s arm. ELISE (CONT’D) You don’t have family when you sit across the table from her. She’s your competition -Let me go.
CLAIRE
Claire pulls herself from her grip. her daughter walks away from her.
Elise can only watch as
Elise stands in the garage, watching them load up Claire’s luggage in the Tesla, her arms folded around herself. She pivots, her back turning as Claire climbs into the Tesla along with Gabriella. She reaches for the garage door button, closing it. The garage door gives us one last sliver of a glimpse of the car as it backs out of the driveway. Elise is half in darkness, her face crumbling as we -SMASH TO BLACK. FADE IN: EXT. WINDING ROAD THROUGH BAYOU COUNTRY - NIGHT Gabriella is in the driver’s seat. lane highway.
They cruise down the two-
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INT. TESLA - NIGHT Claire’s cellphone is blowing up. Calls from “Mom” appear on the cell screen. Claire turns off the phone. The car travels deeper into the low country. Claire sinks back in her seat, relieved. CLAIRE I’m never going back there. GABRIELLA You’ll need your momma one day, Claire. Don’t close the door on her forever. EXT.
DEEPER INTO BAYOU COUNTRY - DAY
Claire wakes up and notices that they are passing several dirt roads and double wide trailers. The poverty is something to behold. CLAIRE Where exactly are we going? GABRIELLA Off the grid. You won’t find these guys on the internet. EXT. OFF-RAMP OF ROADWAY - DAY A little outpost in the middle of nowhere. EXT.
HI-LO MOTEL - DAY
Gabriella walks into the lobby while Claire waits in the car. Claire sticks her head out the window and points to the sign. CLAIRE They have HBO and wifi now. Imagine that. Smartass.
GABRIELLA
Claire grins back at her.
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MOTEL LOBBY - DAY
Gabriella scoops up card keys from the CLERK. GABRIELLA Buddy still playing his cash game here? The Clerk considers her and then headnods towards the back of the lobby. Basic breakfast nook with tourist attraction info. the front, we track into: INT.
Beyond
BACK ROOM/MOTEL LOBBY - DAY
Game in progress. Gabriella and Claire take a seat among TRUCKERS, OLD-TIMERS, LOCALS. Claire glances at Gabriella, uncomfortable. to Gabriella.
She leans over
CLAIRE You went into places like this... by yourself? GABRIELLA Sometimes. Elise was with me at other times too. But for the most part... this is where you practice. Claire’s look lingers over her as Gabriella exchanges money for chips. There’s a lot she’s going to have to learn. Gabriella places the chips in front of Claire and then takes a seat across from her. She slips on her sunglasses. After she folds several times, the oldest man in the room, BUDDY, raises an eyebrow. BUDDY You’re not playing? GABRIELLA I’m watching. Tweaking my game for St. Louis. BUDDY Or for Vegas? Gabriella looks away. a PLAYER to notice.
Claire is too focussed on busting out
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RAMP UP ON -Chips thrown on table. Cards slapped down. Chip stack going up, then down. played.
A fair amount of hands
Every time someone bluffs against Claire, she manages to catch it and beat them. Several times, Buddy has to get up and shuffle to the ATM machine for more cash. The money fires down into the holder, rapid-fire. Buddy throws more cash on the table. All eyes are on Claire and her substantial chip stack. is going head-to-head with Buddy.
She
On tilt, Bud goes in on the next hand. Claire limps-in, gets to see a flop. Ten-three-four rainbow comes up on board. Claire looks over at Buddy, still emotionally, blindly reaching for chips. Gabriella watches her, picking up on her gift for once. Claire swallows fully when she looks at Buddy. CLAIRE How much do you have left? Humiliation. Buddy counts the remainder of his chips.
One by one.
Gabriella’s eyes only see Claire. Claire glances at her cards, grows impatient. CLAIRE (CONT’D) I’ll put you all-in. Call.
BUDDY
It was said too quickly. Claire looks over, alarmed. Everyone twists their heads to get a better look at his cards. A pair of Kings.
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Claire flips over her ten-three. BUDDY (CONT’D) You called me with that? He shakes his head.
Even more humiliating.
The dealer lays down the turn card. them.
Nothing for both of
The table is rooting for the Buddy. “You got her, Bud” and “Take her down” fill the tense silence in the room. BUDDY (CONT’D) Give me a king. Gabriella watches from her perch, taking in the hostility that Claire breeds. The dealer lays down the river card -- a Ten. Sweet Jesus. Claire takes the pot with a full boat. lousy cards down.
Buddy throws his
BUDDY (CONT’D) (points finger at Claire) I’m done throwing my money at you. CLAIRE But I like when you do that. She gives a weak smile.
Buddy turns to Gabriella.
BUDDY You trying to hustle me? me against another pro?
Setting
GABRIELLA So she’s aggressive. Why would I lie about her being a newbie? BUDDY There’s just no way she hasn’t placed. CLAIRE Google my name. You won’t find it.
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BUDDY (to Claire) St. Louis will bend you over its knee and give you the proper ass whooping you deserve. CLAIRE Is that right? Claire flips the table over. CLAIRE (CONT’D) I was gentle with you before, old man. But we can see who’s gonna get their ass whupped, if you’re up for it. Radio silence. Gabriella’s eyes widen. in over her head. Let’s go. INT.
Maybe she’s the one
GABRIELLA
LOBBY/HI-LO MOTEL - NEXT DAY
Claire and Gabriella finally emerge from the back room as GUESTS are coming in for breakfast. Gabriella tries to hightail it out of there. Claire, clueless, lags behind. Gabriella reaches back and hurriedly guides her to the car. INT.
TESLA - DAY
Claire fumbles to close the door/wings. CLAIRE I wasn’t done with him yet. Gabriella looks over her shoulder. EXT.
MOTEL - DAY
Five angry, burly GUYS stand outside the entrance, staring at the car. GABRIELLA (O.S.) Oh yes you are.
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Claire sees what she sees. CLAIRE Let me drive. GABRIELLA No, Claire. INT.
TESLA - DAY
Claire climbs in the driver’s side, pushes the start button. Gabriella shifts the car in gear for her before Claire can even do it. Punch it.
GABRIELLA
Claire considers her paranoia as she speeds off. INT./EXT. DINER - DAY Half-eatery/half-convenience store, with shifty LOCALS drifting in the store area. Gabriella and Claire, over breakfast. GABRIELLA Throwing down the gauntlet at every hand, seeing what sticks -- that’s how you play? CLAIRE That’s how you win. Gabriella considers this, watching Claire swig down a bloody mary. GABRIELLA You gonna eat something with that liquid breakfast? CLAIRE I had some celery. Gabriella pushes her uneaten toast towards Claire. GABRIELLA It’s reckless. Over time, it won’t hold up. CLAIRE It’s just playing a lotta hands.
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GABRIELLA I’m not talking about your game. Although eventually your drinking will affect your game. We’re working. This is a work trip. CLAIRE I’m just trying to have fun, Gab. Loosen up, live a little. Gabriella looks at her. EXT.
PARKING LOT/MOTEL - NIGHT
Claire follows Gabriella to their rooms. GABRIELLA Act like you got some sense. Or I will send you back where you came from. They stand in front of the adjoining room doors. CLAIRE When are we going to play against each other? This gives Gabriella pause. GABRIELLA That’s not a good idea. CLAIRE I came all this way to learn from you... Gabriella assesses this. CLAIRE (CONT’D) From the best. GABRIELLA You already know how to play. read on your game is simple.
My
Claire weighs this, exchanges a look with Gabriella. GABRIELLA (CONT’D) If you wanna know, I haven’t seen your father at the table in years. Claire, taken by surprise, sobers. weakness.
Gabriella’s found her
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GABRIELLA (CONT’D) Last I heard he was homeless. Jumping from motel to motel, using his looks to mooch off women, hoping his luck would change. A true degenerate Romeo. (taking her in) It’s not glamorous for most of us gamblers. It could change like that, on a dime. I wanted you to know that. Either one of us could end up in his shoes. Gabriella pats Claire’s shoulder. GABRIELLA (CONT’D) Give Elise some credit. She protected you for a reason. Don’t go chasing something you have no business seeing. Gabriella goes inside her room. breath taken away. INT.
On Claire, adrift, her
CLAIRE’S MOTEL ROOM - NIGHT
Claire sets out her grandmother’s watch on the dresser, next to the picture of her father. Tears flow down her cheeks. to quiet her emotions. INT.
She collapses on the bed, trying
GABRIELLA’S MOTEL ROOM - NIGHT
Gabriella has her poker case open, her deck of cards out, dealing them out, practicing when to fold, when to bet. She has a renewed energy to her. LATER -Gabriella awakens to LOUD MUSIC and LOUD VOICES. SHATTERS. She flips on a LIGHT. window.
Pulls on a robe and drifts to the
She pulls aside the drapes and peeks out. OUTSIDE --
A bottle
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CHERRIES are flashing on a cop car. to the cruiser.
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66.
Claire is being led out
EXT. GABRIELLA’S MOTEL ROOM - NIGHT Gabriella darts out of room and approaches the ARRESTING OFFICER. She takes in the intoxicated Claire, the trashed motel room, the mini-party of LOCAL NO-GOOD TEENAGERS being interrogated. The MOTEL MANAGER standing on the periphery, glaring. She smiles feebly at the officer. GABRIELLA Officer, my name is Gabriella Janeway and this is my niece -She exchanges a look with Claire. OFFICER You’re responsible for her? GABRIELLA (hesitates) ...Yes... I am. She’s a smart girl. She’s always done well in school. This was a dumb mistake. Lesson learned. OFFICER A noise complaint. Public intoxication. Resisting arrest. (to the Manager) Do you want to press charges? GABRIELLA I’ll pay for the room damages. Fines. I’m so sorry for this trouble. INT./EXT. TESLA/MOTEL LOBBY/PARKING LOT - DAWN Gabriella settles things with the motel manager with a pile of money. She exits the lobby, crosses to the Tesla and climbs into the driver’s seat. Claire, ashamed, forces herself to look at her.
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CLAIRE Auntie G... I’m -GABRIELLA You didn’t hurt me. You hurt yourself. You begged me for this opportunity. And now you’ve made me regret it. Claire soaks this in. GABRIELLA (CONT'D) Stop drinking or you will end up becoming just like her. Claire swallows.
Nods.
GABRIELLA (CONT’D) I already signed you up for a game tonight. We have an obligation to appear. My appearances pay for this. Don’t fuck this up again, Claire. Gabriella starts the car.
Turns into the night.
INT. POKER ROOM/TEXAS CASINO - DAY Claire clutches a Texas-sized cup of coffee and gulps it down, trying to energize herself. Gabriella watches Claire like a hawk. Claire takes a seat at the table and begins to play her heart out. She is on edge, overcaffienated, taking her frustration out on the table. She shakes the hand of every person she eliminates. respectful. A true sportswoman.
She is
CLAIRE (to an exiting PLAYER) Good game. Gabriella is moved by this. Proud that at the table, Claire’s shown more reserve than Gabriella ever has. When Claire looks over to Gabriella, there’s something close to forgiveness in her eyes.
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INT. HALLWAY/TEXAS CASINO - NIGHT Claire lingers in front of their adjoining rooms as Gabriella heads inside. CLAIRE See you tomorrow? Yeah.
GABRIELLA
Claire gives her a bear-hug. Gabriella attempts to free herself, slipping inside the room. Claire is all grins as Gabriella closes the door in her face. INT.
GABRIELLA’S ROOM/TEXAS CASINO - NIGHT
Gabriella is shaken. Fuck. INT.
She wipes the sweat off her upper lip. GABRIELLA
VARIOUS ROADS - DAY/NIGHT
Country mile after country mile. The Tesla’s headlights sweeps from one road to another. Some rural, some dirt, some urban. INT.
VARIOUS HOMES - NIGHT
Faces change.
Rooms change.
Claire bulldozes home game after home game. The room gets silent. pot.
Uncomfortable.
She easily wins the
Many players leave, telling the HOST that they won’t come back again if she’s around. From the sidelines, Gabriella watches this exchange curiously. INT.
TESLA - NIGHT
Gabriella glances over at Claire, who looks so sweet asleep.
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CLAIRE’S MOTEL ROOM - NIGHT
Claire picks up her cell and selects to call Home. Elise picks up. Hello.
ELISE (O.S.)
INTERCUT WITH ELISE AT HOME -Elise listens to the silence. ELISE (CONT’D) Claire?... Listen... I’m sorry... Claire hangs up. EXT.
MOTEL - DAY
Establishing. INT.
BATHROOM/CLAIRE’S MOTEL ROOM - DAY
Claire stares at her reflection in the mirror. INT.
CLAIRE’S MOTEL ROOM - DAY
Gabriella indicates it’s time to roll. her bathrobe.
Claire is still in
GABRIELLA You should get there early. I told you. Listen and watch beforehand, pick up on anything you can use during the game. I’m giving you five minutes. EXT.
MOTEL ROOM - DAY
Claire emerges from her room. a nice sundress.
She’s put on some make-up, and
Gabriella packs up the car, taking her in. wearing flip flops though. GABRIELLA Look at you. No wonder it was taking you so long. (MORE)
Claire’s still
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GABRIELLA (CONT'D) (purrs like a cat) You clean up nicely. Claire throws her travel pillow at Gabriella. catches it in time. Gives a tight laugh.
Gabriella
GABRIELLA (CONT’D) A woman should always own a good pair of shoes. Gabriella pushes her foot against Claire’s. GABRIELLA (CONT’D) Hopefully you won’t have to walk far. Gabriella reaches into one of her bags and pulls out a pair of wedge sandals. GABRIELLA (CONT’D) Put these on. Claire is now several inches taller. But they fit. Gabriella inspects her again. With her hair down and her clothes finally snug against her body, Claire looks young and sexy and transformed. She attempts to take her first steps in Gabriella’s shoes. She stumbles and clambers along. Gabriella takes her by the elbow and guides her to the passenger side of the car. INT.
TESLA - DAY
Gabriella drives, Claire’s shotgun. CLAIRE I’m going to crush them in St. Louis. I know it. Your legacy, Mom’s legacy, will live on at the WSOP. Gabriella glances at her, uneasy. EXT.
LOW COUNTRY/DELTA - DAY
An edgy neighborhood.
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71.
A PIT BULL runs along the railroad tracks, without a leash or owner in sight. Small houses line the road where we reach the last house before the tracks. DONOVAN NICHOLS, early twenties, has withstood a few punches in his short life, stands at the edge of the driveway of the last house. His Barracuda sits behind him. He stares down the road, waiting. A few cars are parking. carrying cases of beer.
Mostly MEN walk down the sidewalk The party is coming his way.
Donovan greets the approaching men, pleasantly gestures towards the side door. One man, morose, eyes downcast, call him JIMMY, Donovan stops from entering. DONOVAN Look who it is. JIMMY You running this game too? Jimmy backs up, trying to avoid this. JIMMY (CONT’D) Next week I'll have it. DONOVAN Problem is, next week doesn't work for me, Jimmy. I remember what I had to put on you last time to get my money. It'll be a thousand times worse if seven days tick by. Jimmy nods, getting the message. He staggers backwards to his car, before he startles himself by running into it. Donovan's eyes have not wavered from his departing figure. Jimmy stares at his beat-to-shit car, his keys trembling in his hands. Piss puddles at his feet. Claire takes in Jimmy backing down the street in his car, uneasy. She eyes the Barracuda.
Gabriella sees it too.
All-In
Joy Kecken
12/19/13
72.
Gabriella makes a beeline for Donovan, Claire trailing after her. Donovan watches them, his eyes flickering over Claire. GABRIELLA You Donovan? DONOVAN You found me. Gabriella.
GABRIELLA
DONOVAN Even if Buddy hadn’t called, I’d know who you are. GABRIELLA This is Dozer. Claire looks back at Donovan.
Catches him looking at her.
DONOVAN Your baby shark. Gabriella looks over at Claire.
She gives a huge smile.
GABRIELLA Something like that. INT.
DONOVAN’S RUN DOWN HOUSE - DAY
The carpets and floors are filthy. table. Some young, some old.
Seven LOCALS sit at the
Gabriella’s presence overwhelms them. Claire watches Donovan introduce her. Putting his hand on the small of her back and smiling broadly. He caught the big kahuna. DONOVAN Need all ya’ll to behave. Gabriella Janeway has come to play. Gabriella smiles her thanks and takes a seat. LOCAL PLAYER Be gentle on us now.
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Joy Kecken
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73.
GABRIELLA Aggression always wins the day. You know this, fellas. Gabriella puts about $2000 on the table. of the chips should go to Claire.
She indicates half
Donovan takes the money and sets out the chips. DONOVAN I’ve been waiting for a game like this for a long time. Claire clocks this, frazzled. She tries to concentrate on her cards, the players’ faces around her. But she keeps looking over at Donovan. away from him.
Claire blushes, looks
Gabriella puts her shark tooth card holder on the table. She runs her fingers along the table, brushing against the rough hump where the table is uneven. She raps her knuckles on it. Claire limps in.
She glances over to see Gabriella at work.
The table is so quiet that only the THUMPING BEAT from the music outside can be heard. Gabriella pushes her chip stack into the center of the table and then adds a few hundreds on top for good measure. Donovan’s eyes widen. DONOVAN (CONT’D) On the first hand? (off her silence) You didn’t even look at your cards. She smiles her megawatt smile. point.
He can barely breathe at this
GABRIELLA I’ve tweaked my game a bit. DONOVAN You don’t say. Claire watches from across the table. attention to her.
No one is paying much
On Gabriella, taking in each man at the table. On the men, taking in her bare arm.
Her cleavage.
Her lips.
All-In She smirks.
Joy Kecken
Knows her power.
12/19/13
74.
Relishes in it.
Claire chokes on her drink. The men break out in nervous grins. Donovan calls. Man #1 calls. Man #2 calls. Man #3 calls. Claire calls, coughing. CLAIRE We’ve got a family pot. Watch her. one.
LOCAL PLAYER She’s a killer, that
Gabriella checks her annoyance at this. She’s used to being called the killer. She takes in Claire and sees what a threat she truly is. There is a lot of money piled high on that table. Donovan and the Men all stand. DONOVAN Don’t slowboat. Show ‘em. Donovan flips over his cards. Ace-Two suited. follow with their split face cards.
His buddies
Claire has a six-seven suited. Necks are craned to see Gabriella’s hand. Gabriella flips her cards.
A pair of threes.
DONOVAN (CONT’D) (shakes his head) Of course. Gabriella leans back in her chair, relaxed. Claire deals out the cards. 3-4-Queen on flop. groans from the testosterone end of table.
Moans and
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Joy Kecken
12/19/13
75.
DONOVAN (CONT’D) I could still pull it off. Straight draw. Pregnant pause. DONOVAN (CONT’D) Five and five only. (to Claire) Then we’d both win. A six comes up on the turn. Donovan’s hands fly to his head. A smile spreads over Gabriella’s face. Gabriella exchanges a look with Claire. yet.
Claire isn’t out
A two comes on the river. Gabriella sits up on her chair, reaching for the chips and cash in front of her. GABRIELLA That’s poker. RAMP UP more card playing. Gabriella has lost money. are evenly distributed around the table.
Chips
Everyone is laughing at her jokes. Claire takes in the fun vibe at the table. CLAIRE So this is your game. GABRIELLA For what it’s worth. And then Claire’s gaze falls on Gabriella. She looks tired. The hunger’s gone for a bit and the loneliness has returned. Lost in her thoughts, Gabriella twists the bracelet on her wrist. Gabriella catches Claire staring at her bracelet. twisting them, her competitiveness kicking in.
She stops
GABRIELLA (CONT’D) Last hand for me. Donovan glances over to Claire.
What the fuck did you do?
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Joy Kecken
12/19/13
76.
Gabriella and an INTENSE PLAYER face off. Gabriella is super aggressive, throwing lots of chips around. The intense player can't lay down his cards. out to see the river.
Puts a boatload
Gabriella puts him All-In. The intense player sweats it out. call.
Can't bring himself to
INTENSE PLAYER
I can't.
He folds. She flips over her cards. bluffing the entire time.
Reveals that she was
The Locals’ breath is taken away. INTENSE PLAYER (CONT’D) She didn't have to show her cards. The table gets very quiet. Players shoot looks at her, but she focuses on stacking up her chips. Donovan cashes her out. The Intense Player rises to his feet, humiliated. INTENSE PLAYER (CONT’D) What kind of shit is that? You raise on a three-five? Donovan, what kind of fucking game are you running? (points finger at Gabriella) Fuck you. GABRIELLA Fuck your fuck. Donovan gathers his bulk and jumps between them. He has the guy already wrapped up by his collar and presses him against the wall. He tosses him out. on by it.
Claire clocks the aggression.
Is turned
Donovan returns and checks out Claire for signs of harm. I’m sorry.
DONOVAN
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77.
CLAIRE (smitten) It’s okay. We’re fine. She looks over and they see that Gabriella is packing up her things to leave. DONOVAN Where’re you going? GABRIELLA We had a great time here. good to go now.
But I’m
He exchanges a look with Claire. EXT.
TESLA - NIGHT
Donovan opens the door for Gabriella. Claire climbs in on her own.
She settles inside.
DONOVAN We’ll be talking about this for a long time. You’re welcome back anytime. CLAIRE You should come to St. Louis with us. I can’t.
DONOVAN
CLAIRE Why not? They’ll still be playing when you get back. Donovan laughs. DONOVAN You’re probably right about that. Claire steals one last glance at him as the car pulls away. INT.
TESLA - DAY
Claire settles in. Gabriella climbs in and reaches into the glove compartment where she pulls out a gun. She hands Claire the gun.
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78.
GABRIELLA Always good to have something extra with you at the table. Just in case. Claire licks her lips, nervously. GABRIELLA (CONT'D) Elise ever taught you how to shoot? Claire shakes her head no. GABRIELLA (CONT'D) Oma took us to the gun range when we were old enough to walk. EXT. FIELD IN THE MIDDLE OF NOWHERE - DAY C'mere.
GABRIELLA
Gabriella draws Claire close. Claire in a shooting stance.
Kicks her legs apart to get
CLAIRE It's loaded? GABRIELLA I'm going to hand it to you and you're going to point it away from both of us. Got it? Claire nods.
She takes the gun.
Holds it, firm, in her hands.
Female Dirty Harry.
GABRIELLA (CONT’D) Take off the safety. Claire fumbles with it, finds it. She FIRES in rapid succession. The rusty can targets go flying off in the distance. Gabriella is impressed. GABRIELLA (CONT’D) Some things we're wired for. The kickback, the rush, is bigger than what she had at the casino table. Her knees get a little wobbly. She steadies herself against Gabriella. For a moment, she loses herself.
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Joy Kecken
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79.
GABRIELLA (CONT’D) You travelling, Claire? Come back to earth. Gabriella's grin matches Claire’s. GABRIELLA (CONT’D) I’ve been to that place. There’s no coming back now. Claire blushes. GABRIELLA (CONT’D) Your boyfriends may not have the same effect on you anymore. CLAIRE No one has ever had that effect on me. Gabriella clocks this.
Claire draws down.
GABRIELLA Never pull this out unless you plan to use it. INT.
TESLA - NIGHT
Long night. The dawn is breaking on the horizon in the distance. Claire is curled in the passenger seat, ready for sleep. CLAIRE You’re the only person I’ve ever felt safe with. Gabriella, struck by that, notices that Claire has drifted off to sleep. She shifts in her seat, shielding her eyes from the sun. EXT.
ST. LOUIS - DAY
The Tesla zips past the arch. INT.
CASINO/ST. LOUIS - DAY
Gabriella checks them in while Claire registers for a tournament.
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Joy Kecken
12/19/13
80.
A few tables down from them, stands ELISE. She watches her daughter, worried. A TOURNAMENT VOLUNTEER calls out to her: VOLUNTEER If you want to go inside, you have to register. Elise, distracted, considers, taking one last look at Claire. Sure. INT.
ELISE How much?
HIGH-ROLLER POKER ROOM - DAY
Gabriella scopes out the action at the tables and clocks Lou in a private room. She pulls a pair of shades from her bag, slips them on her face. From a distance she watches him. She catches her obvious affection for this man. Sobering, she considers him and her options. He is in coaching mode with another PLAYER, too busy to notice. And he’s a lousy player. So excited by his good hand that he fumbles and spills his chips. A huge tell. PLAYERS around the table fold. Gabriella laughs to herself as she walks out. At the last moment, Lou looks up. could have seen her...
A slim possibility he
But by then she’s gone. INT.
“STAIRWAY TO HEAVEN” ESCALATOR/PURE NIGHTCLUB -
NIGHT
Gabriella is lost in thought on the long escalator up to a neon nightclub nirvana. Claire stands below Gabriella, staring down at the CASINO FLOOR CROWD below, gambling away, in wonder.
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Joy Kecken
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81.
PURE NIGHTCLUB/CASINO - NIGHT
A neon hedonistic dream. Claire, in all her sheltered life, has never been in a club. She looks around, deer in headlights. A hostess leads Claire and Gabriella to a VIP cabana. Champagne chills on ice, caviar awaits. Claire remains stoic amid all the temptation. Gabriella, not so much. And to Claire’s surprise, some random HOT DUDE appears behind Gabriella and embraces her. As they leave, Gabriella turns to her and reminds her: GABRIELLA Don’t do anything stupid. She gives Claire an affectionate squeeze. Claire watches them disappear. INT.
“STAIRWAY TO HEAVEN” ESCALATOR/CASINO - NIGHT
Gabriella slinks down the escalator with the hot guy. INT. NIGHTCLUB - NIGHT Claire takes in the party.
This isn’t her scene.
She walks out. INT. ELEVATOR/CASINO - NIGHT Gabriella and the hot guy step inside the empty elevator with mirrored panels. GUY Where’s your friend? GABRIELLA Who’re you talking about? GUY The woman you were with. The doors are about to close. close.
Gabriella shrugs, drawing him
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82.
GUY (CONT’D) What was she, your sister? You’re just going to leave her like that? Gabriella stares at him for a long, cold beat. could kill...
If looks
GABRIELLA Forget about her. GUY But who is she? could join us.
I mean, c’mon, she
She pulls away from him, disgusted. closed.
But the doors have
GABRIELLA She’s nobody and she’s not going anywhere with me. She hears herself and begins to rapidly press several floor buttons. Stuck, she stares up at the numbers, catching a glimpse of all of her different faces in the reflections. Finally, the doors open and she storms out, getting as far away from the guy as possible. INT.
HALLWAY/CASINO - NIGHT
Claire reaches the juncture where the signs point to the casino or to the hotel. She rubs her head, needing her fix. She scans the faces around the elevators and sees a GROUP, with a PRETTYBOY carrying a poker case, heading towards to hotel elevators. Claire steps onto the elevator with them. INT.
PRETTYBOY’S ROOM/ST. LOUIS CASINO - NIGHT
Claire sits at a small table of about three guys and two other girls. Prettyboy holds court, chatting about the tournament. He is flirting with her, and like Gabriella in the beginning, she flirts back, sure of herself and her affect on him. Claire is distracted though, by an older black GENTLEMAN, to her right.
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83.
His shoulders are slumped, he needs a shave, his clothes have seen better days. She pegs him as a degenerate gambler. She can smell the desperation on him. his life depends on it.
He is playing as if
He puts in his last pile of chips to protect his hand. DEGENERATE PLAYER This is my dinner money. All I got left. Several players fold. PRETTYBOY You expect us to feel sorry for you? You knew what you were getting into when you came up in here. Prettyboy mucks his cards with a cruel laugh. PRETTYBOY (CONT’D) If your dinner’s so important... Play comes to Claire. She checks her cards. It’s a good hand, a pair of nines. She considers him, checking out his small chip stack. Claire swallows. She would call his All-In, but this is her long-lost father, KENNETH. The look she gives him is heartbreaking. and pity.
A mixture of sorrow
And he was acting, to generate that response. She folds her hand and watches his demeanor change as he scoops up the pot, hungry, not registering any connection between them. He flips his six-seven suited. winnings toward him.
It was an act.
Pulls his
PRETTYBOY (CONT’D) Didn’t need that dinner after all. Claire’s hands are shaking. back from the table. She pulls out the gun.
She suddenly pushes her chair
Puts it on the table.
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84.
Everyone stops and stares. PRETTYBOY (CONT’D) What the -CLAIRE Shut up. (to her father) You’re a cheat. PRETTYBOY (to Kenneth) Give her back what you took. The man struggles to take out the bills. he holds the money out to her.
His hand shaking,
Claire takes the bills and then tosses it in his face. rises, takes the gun with her.
She
CLAIRE Some things you can’t pay back. The moment hangs in the air. And then the door SLAMS behind her, making all the players at the table jump out of their skin. INT.
HALLWAY/ST. LOUIS CASINO - NIGHT
Claire BANGS on Gabriella’s door with her fist. It swings open. Gabriella is in her robe, half-asleep, alone. this in.
Claire takes
CLAIRE I just wanted to say... goodnight. Goodnight.
GABRIELLA
Claire lingers, but there is a curtness, a distance that Gabriella is putting between them now. Claire backs away. CLAIRE Good luck tomorrow. The door closes.
All-In INT.
Joy Kecken
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85.
CLAIRE’S ROOM/ST. LOUIS CASINO - NIGHT
Claire stares at the view outside her window. Is startled by... A KNOCK on the door. Who is it? Donovan.
CLAIRE DONOVAN (O.S.)
She pauses. Considers her frumpy, oversized t-shirt. Smoothes her hair. She opens the door wide. her.
He cracks a smile at the sight of
CLAIRE What are you doing here? DONOVAN You invited me. A beat, as she considers her options.
Sensing trouble.
Then she steps aside, closes the door after him, curious. LATER -The shower turns off. He putters around in his towel, grabbing something out of his bag. Her eyes widen at the sight of his body. DONOVAN (CONT’D) I’ll cheer you on tomorrow. Claire sits on her bed, her decision made. CLAIRE You don’t have to sleep on the couch. INT.
GABRIELLA’S ROOM/ST. LOUIS CASINO - DAY
Gabriella sets up her altar. She lights a candle, illuminating the faces in the pictures.
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Joy Kecken
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86.
She stacks her money and coins on the altar. Her eyes are desperate. GABRIELLA I need to win this. EXT. ST. LOUIS CASINO - DAY PLAYERS stream in through the tournament entrance. INT.
POKER TOURNAMENT FLOOR - DAY
Gabriella finds her seat. been assigned.
She looks across to where Claire’s
A CAMERA CREW approaches for an interview. PRODUCER We’d like to do some promos on you and your niece... if you make it to cash. Gabriella swallows her fury. GABRIELLA We have a great story. tell it in Vegas.
But we’ll
She turns her back on the producer. Claire strides over with Donovan, arm in arm. looks between them.
Gabriella
Claire leans down. CLAIRE Good luck today. GABRIELLA Tell me you didn’t pay his registration fee at least. Claire doesn’t respond. GABRIELLA (CONT’D) He’s going to distract you. You don’t... Gabriella struggles with this. Donovan, who drifts away.
Claire glances back at
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Joy Kecken
12/19/13
87.
GABRIELLA (CONT’D) Focus on making it to the final table. CLAIRE I don’t think that’ll be a problem for me. I have that under control. Really?
GABRIELLA What makes you think that?
CLAIRE I can play this game in my sleep. GABRIELLA Tournament’s different, Claire. CLAIRE Don’t think so. You worry about your game. They exchange a look.
Cocky Claire drifts off.
Gabriella shakes her head. Donovan’s direction.
Shoots a desperate look in
Donovan escorts Claire to her seat.
Gives her a long kiss.
DONOVAN Knock ‘em dead, Dozer. The hall has filled up. is overwhelming.
The NOISE from the chips shuffling
And then the ANNOUNCER comes over the mic: ANNOUNCER Shuffle up and deal. Day 1.
The game begins.
Gabriella is on fire. She is getting the cards, and dominates as the chip leader. She glances over her shoulder, checking in on Claire. Her chip stack is average.
But she’s managed to stay alive.
Player after player is eliminated. At the end of the first day, Claire, Gabriella and Donovan have survived.
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Joy Kecken
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88.
They bag their chips in large plastic bags and turn them over to the chip keeper, receiving a chit. Gabriella reaches Claire and Donovan, exuberant. GABRIELLA The best I played in a long time. Fifty more players to go tomorrow, and then we make it to cash. Third day, final table. CLAIRE Two more days of this? GABRIELLA Claire. This is practice before the World Series. Which is a full week, if you’re lucky. You have to have endurance and persistence, like any other game of skill. Claire smiles at Gabriella’s intensity. against Donovan.
She presses her body
GABRIELLA (CONT’D) Let me see how many chips you ended with. She signals for Claire and Donovan to hand over their chits. She compares the figures. GABRIELLA (CONT’D) Not bad. If you’re going to make it, you need to mix it up more... When she looks up, they’re gone. INT.
BAR/CASINO - NIGHT
Gabriella sits among talk of bad beats and amazing victories. Side games are forming. A MAN across the bar locks eyes with her. Gabriella considers.
And for a moment,
Then she reaches for her purse and calls it a night, more determined than ever. INT.
TOURNAMENT FLOOR/CASINO - NIGHT
Day 2.
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Joy Kecken
12/19/13
Donovan rises, in a showdown with a PRO. is tossed in the center ring.
89.
The all-in button
He flips over a pair of eights. DONOVAN A pair of snowmen. His opponent flips over Kings. OPPONENT Cowboys, baby. Donovan starts to pack it up and go. He’s closest to Gabriella, who has been moved because so many players have been eliminated. DONOVAN (calls over to Gabriella) I’m done. GABRIELLA Miracles have been known to happen. Across the room, Claire clocks the two talking with each other. She swallows, a dark cloud crossing her features. Sure enough, Donovan busts out. Donovan snakes through the maze of tables until he reaches Claire. Oh no.
CLAIRE Baby, I’m sorry.
The announcer comes over the loudspeaker: ANNOUNCER And for those of you still sitting, you have made it to cash. A CHEER roils through the hall. So close.
CLAIRE
DONOVAN I’ll pick up a side game. Gabriella’s right. I should pay you back for the registration.
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90.
CLAIRE We’re a team. DONOVAN All you have to worry about is being the last person standing at the end of this tournament. Nothing else matters. CLAIRE You sound like Gabriella. DONOVAN Don’t get knocked out because of me. I’ll be waiting for you tonight. CLAIRE You promise? DONOVAN Slay ‘em for me, slayer. Donovan leans down and kisses her. I will.
CLAIRE
Claire’s stack has gotten noticeably larger. DONOVAN (impressed) You’re doing good. (egging her) Better than Gabriella. Yeah.
CLAIRE
DONOVAN She has no discipline. She’ll crash out. You’ll see. He backs up, watching as she surveys the hand that was dealt, throwing some chips in to play. Claire is back on task.
Donovan slips away into the crowd.
AT GABRIELLA’S TABLE -Gabriella looks down at her cards.
2-9.
Shit pair.
She considers bluffing a weak-looking PLAYER.
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91.
She tosses some chips in the center. As the DEALER lays out the flop, Gabriella’s eyes drift around the room. She notices a BLACK WOMAN, who looks similar to the Spirit that visits her in her dreams. It takes her breath away. She cranes her neck to get a better look at her, but the woman has taken a seat at the table and has her back to her. The dealer tries to get Gabriella’s attention. in play.
Her hand is
In a rush, Gabriella calls absentmindedly. She searches for the woman again until her eyes rest on the familiar figure. She waits until the woman turns her face, but this time, she has put on shades and a hat. Gabriella can only assume it’s just another poker player. She can’t tell that this is Elise. By the time she refocuses on the game, she notices half her chip stack is gone. Gabriella goes off on the dealer and the weak player in classic Gabriella fashion. Luckily she is able to settle herself down before getting ejected. LATER -Claire bags her massive chip stack. Gabriella bags her small amount. CLAIRE You’ll come back.
Very unhappy with herself.
I know it.
GABRIELLA You have no idea what you’re talking about. Claire stares at her, stunned. CLAIRE I’m just trying to be there for you, Gabriella. Don’t.
GABRIELLA
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92.
Gabriella stalks off. Claire twists in the wind. She steadies herself against the railing overlooking the poker floor. EXT.
RIVERWALK UNDER A BRIDGE - NIGHT
Claire wanders along the riverbank, the waves crashing around her. She takes out her cell and dials “Mom”. INT.
ST. LOUIS CASINO ROOM - NIGHT
Elise emerges from the poker room floor with a chit for her chips. She slips off her sunglasses and hat, the typical garb of a poker player a perfect disguise for her. ELISE
Claire? INTERCUT:
CLAIRE It’s me. I want to tell you something and I don’t want you to... react. ELISE (O.S.) I’m listening. CLAIRE I’m going to win this. And then we’re all moving to Vegas together. Elise is silent.
Claire sighs.
Okay, Mom. INT.
CLAIRE (CONT’D) Love you, too.
CLAIRE’S ROOM/CASINO HOTEL - NIGHT
Claire and Donovan sleep in the bed together. back to him, pulling away. INT.
POKER TOURNAMENT FLOOR - DAY
Day 3. Gabriella’s fortunes have improved.
She turns her
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Joy Kecken
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93.
A larger chip stack today. The impulsiveness is gone. Hand after hand is dealt her way. And she folds, bidding her time. The tournament is winding down and only a few tables of ten players are left. Claire is moved to Gabriella’s table. They nod out of respect to each other. But the competitiveness is there. Gabriella watches Claire as her eyes move around the table assessing each PLAYER. Her gaze sinks into Gabriella, who’s the big fish that needs to be taken out. Gabriella can sense it too. She drums her knuckles on the table, so that Claire knows who’s boss. Claire gives a half-smile. CLAIRE I’m here to play too. LATER -Claire is on fire. A PRO is talking trash to her, distracting her from her game. Gabriella signals the FLOOR MAN. GABRIELLA He is distracting my niece. PRO PLAYER Then she needs to say something, not you. GABRIELLA You need to shut the fuck up. Me?
PRO PLAYER
The CAMERAS are loving the exchange.
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94.
GABRIELLA It’s my job to look out for her. (to Floor Man) It’s your job too. Claire tries to calm Gabriella down. It’s okay.
CLAIRE
GABRIELLA You don’t let anyone talk to you like that. I heard what he said. And I’ve had enough. Gabriella steps away from the table as the floor man goes to talk to the pro. Claire crosses over to her, moved, her guard down with her now. Thank you.
CLAIRE
GABRIELLA Now show that punk who the best motherfucker is at this table. Claire nods. The floor man indicates for the game to restart. The Pro sits down, silenced. Claire goes after them.
Gabriella, again, bides her time.
Pretty soon, Claire and Gabriella play against each other. Claire is nervous, her eyes darting everywhere under the lights. Gabriella, measured, in control, focuses only on Claire. Cards are dealt to them. Gabriella is tempted to bluff, but doesn’t take the risk. She is practically giving Claire her chips as the blinds increase. But she is waiting to strike at the right moment. Gabriella finally gets a pair. Raising.
Jacks.
CLAIRE Five hundred thousand.
Another column of Gabriella’s chip stack is placed in the middle of the table.
All-In
Call.
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95.
GABRIELLA
Claire looks at Gabriella. A Jack-seven-four comes on the board. Claire checks. All-in.
GABRIELLA (CONT’D)
Claire considers her and then pauses, trying to get a read on her. Nothing. Fold.
CLAIRE
Gabriella weighs this, concerned. makes.
Not a move Claire usually
Claire tosses her hand to the dealer. Her eyes fall on her diminishing chip stack, seriously worried. More chips go back and forth on the table. And then Claire settles down. of Aces. All-in.
She has a great hand.
A pair
CLAIRE (CONT’D)
Gabriella folds. Frustrated, Claire tosses her hand over for Gabriella to see, revealing the Aces. Gabriella bows her head. Of course.
GABRIELLA
The cards are spread out, then dealt. Claire’s gaze falls on Gabriella. Gabriella doesn’t look at her cards. bracelet.
Instead she twists her
This is the tell Claire’s been waiting for.
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96.
Gabriella tosses her all-in chip into the center of the ring. Poised to turn the tables on Claire at last. Claire senses weakness, impulsively calls Gabriella’s all-in. The dealer starts to eyeball Claire’s chips. Gabriella has already done the math for her. GABRIELLA (CONT’D) I have her covered. CLAIRE Let’s see ‘em. Claire flips over her pair of tens, cocky, pretty sure she has Gabriella’s number. Gabriella reveals two-seven, the worst hand in poker. The board is unkind to Claire. Her tens do not hold up as Gabriella’s hand matches the two-seven on the board. Claire looks at her, confused. CLAIRE (CONT’D) But you were bluffing. GABRIELLA I never looked at my cards. gambled.
I
Claire soaks this in, swallowing back her tears. Gabriella gives a half-smile, back on top. Claire does her walk to the loser’s gallery. Over the loudspeaker: ANNOUNCER Folks, we have our final table. Gabriella’s hand flies up and covers her mouth to contain her exhilaration. She doesn’t move for a moment, letting the chill pass through her. Incredible moment for her. it.
And we see how badly she wanted
Her smile disappears, when she sees the contempt Claire has in her eyes for her.
All-In
Joy Kecken
12/19/13
97.
In the midst of the CROWD and the cameras, Gabriella watches Claire leave with Donovan. INT.
CLAIRE’S ROOM/CASINO HOTEL - NIGHT
Claire SLAMS the door closed behind them. Stomps through the room like a child. Claire throws her iPad on the ground and watches it smash. Claire.
DONOVAN Calm the fuck down.
CLAIRE Calm the fuck down? Gabriella.
I lost.
To
DONOVAN You know you’re her competition. Did you really think she was going to let you win? This is like a punch in the gut to Claire. DONOVAN (CONT’D) You made cash. That’s all that matters. CLAIRE No. I should’ve gone into Vegas with my name ringing through the casinos... DONOVAN What made you think Gabriella would take you to Vegas? You’re eighteen. They won’t let you in a poker room there. You were her fish, you know. Like the way your mom was. Narrow down the field, fatten up her pot -Claire clutches her stomach. CLAIRE -- Get out. Pay for your own room, you fucking leech. Donovan takes this in. He walks out.
They share a look.
All-In
Joy Kecken
12/19/13
98.
She rushes into the bathroom, SLAMMING that door. INT.
BATHROOM/CLAIRE’S ROOM - NIGHT
Claire throws up in the sink. She weakly holds up her head, before catching the reflection of the watch Gabriella gave her in the mirror. She smashes it against the mirror. In the shattered reflection, she catches sight of a woman who’s been played. INT.
BATHROOM/GABRIELLA’S ROOM - NIGHT
Gabriella stares at herself in the mirror, as she takes off her bracelet. INT.
GABRIELLA’S ROOM/ST. LOUIS CASINO - NIGHT
Gabriella steps out of the bathroom, holding a towel loosely around her. Donovan awaits. gams.
He assesses her body.
Still tight.
Killer
DONOVAN Do you want to celebrate? This chills Gabriella to the bone. Long beat, before Gabriella moves toward him, not being able to resist striking the final blow. INT. HALLWAY/ST. LOUIS CASINO - DAY Claire drifts down the hall, and rounds the corner. INT. GABRIELLA’S ROOM/ST. LOUIS CASINO - DAY Gabriella opens the door to Claire. CLAIRE What kind of person are you? Gabriella struggles to meet Claire’s gaze.
All-In
Joy Kecken
12/19/13
99.
CLAIRE (CONT’D) You used me to make a comeback? Gabriella, I’m your family. GABRIELLA You were my competition and you lost. It was bound to happen even to you at some point. Claire considers this, then nods in agreement. CLAIRE I’m still coming with you to Vegas, then, right? Gabriella swallows, silent. CLAIRE (CONT’D) This is what families do. Fight. Get over it. Support each other. Radio silence. away.
Gabriella meets her gaze as Claire pecks
CLAIRE (CONT’D) What’s stopping you from having your niece in Vegas then?... Someone else at home with you? GABRIELLA No, there’s no one. I just can’t... Claire steps back, feeling the blast of truth from her at last. Gabriella shudders. CLAIRE (realizes) You were never my aunt, except for the one you played for the cameras on TV. Your brand comes first. Above all else. (beat) I’ll give you this -- at least you were honest about it. This lands like a rock on Gabriella. she’s throwing away.
Gabriella realizes what
Claire takes one last look at Gabriella, starts to walk away. GABRIELLA Wait... You’re my family. You and Elise are all that I have.
All-In
Joy Kecken
12/19/13
100.
CLAIRE You don’t have room for anyone. GABRIELLA Sometimes... The thing that I love brings out the worst in me. I get caught up, thinking too much about the game. Claire, I’m sorry. Come to Vegas. Claire catches a glimpse of Donovan emerging from the background. He is fresh out of the shower. Clueless and half-naked. Claire looks at Gabriella, stunned. CLAIRE Now I know why she hates you. Claire SPITS in her face, rushes away. INT.
CLAIRE’S ROOM/CASINO HOTEL - DAY
Claire sits on the bed, taking off Gabriella’s shoes, when she sees the gun on the nightstand. She reaches out for it and holds it in her hand, entranced. Her cellphone RINGS. Pregnant pause as Claire considers the cell or the gun. She puts the gun down. on the cell screen.
Reaches for the phone.
“Mom” flashes
ELISE How’d it go, baby? Claire can’t answer. Claire?
ELISE (CONT’D)
Claire begins to sob. ELISE (CONT’D) What happened?... Claire? Claire doesn’t answer.
A horrible silence hangs on the line.
All-In EXT.
Joy Kecken
12/19/13
101.
RIVERWALK - DAY
Gabriella wanders down the path in a daze. She clutches her stomach, leans against the rail. the muddy water below.
Stares at
Overhead, the NOISE from the traffic from the bridge crashes down around her. She pulls her championship bracelet off in disgust. it in the water.
Throws
She stares down at the muddy wake. Gone. Despondent over the price of this win. SMASH TO BLACK. FADE IN: INT.
TOURNAMENT LOBBY/ST. LOUIS CASINO - DAY
The set-up for the tournament keeps the area busy. CAMERA CREWS and PLAYERS roam around checking out the pre-tournament festivities. One of the poker kings, Phil Ivey, has checked in. A microphone is stuck in his face as he walks away from the sign-in table. PHIL IVEY ...Last tournament before the World Series. INT.
POKER HALL - DAY
A temple for the poker beast. sacrificed.
The PLAYERS wait to be
A quiet descends over the tables. The faces of the players are sweaty and tight with nervousness. An empty chair sits in their midst. The producer from St. Louis scans the room, searching in vain for any sight of her.
All-In
Joy Kecken
12/19/13
102.
PRODUCER (to Norm Chad) She’s a no-show? Norm nods, disappointed. anticipation.
The players look up in
ANNOUNCER (O.S.) Shuffle up and deal. The SOUND of CHIPS moving on the table is deafening. INT.
BATHROOM/CASINO - DAY
Gabriella smooths her dress over her delicate stomach. Heavy beat. She takes one last look in the mirror, her eyes meeting ours. INT.
TOURNAMENT LOBBY/CASINO - DAY
Gabriella strides down the hall, empty of any trace of the tournament except the skeletons of the poker industry booths. She exhales in front of the heavy doors, considering her options. She stands, alone, twisting in the wind. And then slowly Gabriella makes her way inside. INT.
FINAL TABLE/POKER TOURNAMENT STAGE/CASINO - DAY
Gabriella sashays to her chair in the middle of the floor. The stares from the CROWD, Norm Chad, the camera crews, etc., are overwhelming. She slips a pair of shades on. The game seems to stop in her midst. Cards have been dealt in her stead and the FLOOR MAN is indicating to the DEALER of her approach. The Producer signals her CAMERA CREW to catch this shot. Gabriella reaches her place at the table. In command.
All-In
Joy Kecken
12/19/13
103.
Her shark’s tooth charm is in front of her. She pushes it aside, disturbed at the sight of that part of herself. She lets a calm focus settle on her. Assesses the field. The ten at the table consists of some pros, some internet phenoms... And Elise. They exchange a look.
Cameras FLASH.
Gabriella takes her in, stunned. ELISE You got what you wanted. always do.
You
Gabriella soaks this in. ELISE (CONT’D) You think I’d leave my baby girl with you? (levels her death stare) I’m going to whoop your ass, Gabriella. ANNOUNCER (O.S.) We’ve got some trash talk underway here. Elise smiles. tired.
Gabriella already is regretting this.
She’s
ELISE I will be at every game. Whether it’s tomorrow or next month or next year. See who leaves first this time. Gabriella’s gaze searches out Claire in the stands. is smiling, cheering for her mother.
Claire
Also in the stands, Shamrock Hank, very pleased to see his “girls” in play. Gabriella feels claustrophobic, the room is a blur. the exit not too far away. And then she sees Lou, standing in the doorway.
She sees
All-In
Joy Kecken
12/19/13
104.
They share a quick look. A calm descends on her.
All’s not lost.
The game begins.
The table is tense. Very little talk. Gabriella assesses the field, and considers that Elise is her true competition. They share a look. table.
Gabriella drums her knuckles on the
Elise begins to get the cards and makes her move. All-in.
ELISE (CONT’D)
Action to Gabriella. For a beat, Gabriella assesses her sister. All of the complexity of her emotions flash across her face. As Gabriella considers which move to make, we... SLOW FADE TO BLACK. THE END
