Deadfall (1993) - full transcript
After he accidentally kills his father, Mike, during a sting, Joe tries to carry out Mike's dying wish by recovering valuables that Mike's twin brother Lou stole from him years earlier. But Uncle Lou is also a confidence artist, and Joe is soon drawn into his increasingly dangerous schemes.
Most people
like to think
they have some degree
of control over their lives.
The truth is,
we're all subject
to the influence of others.
Those who appreciate this
can make a lot of money
from those who don't.
But any small-time grifter
who ever dealt off
the bottom of a deck
can tell you that.
I can tell you about
the price one pays
for peddling confidence,
how every Mark you fleece
takes away another
piece of your soul
and what happens
when you try to
pick up the pieces.
I'm risking
50 grand here!
50 grand
for $500,000 worth.
You having
second thoughts?
You give me
the word,
I'll turn this car
around.
I work for you.
If you got a bad
feeling about this,
let's just go home.
Hey.
I'm a big shot, see?
I can chance it.
You're the man.
The beginning of the end
started out normally enough.
I was in the middle
of a deal,
trustworthy as ever.
My pop used to say
I was the best loyalty
man he'd ever seen.
I played
the all-American boy.
People thought they could
pull the wool over my eyes.
Well, that was my con,
and it never failed.
Ahem. Let's see it.
Give me a break,
will ya?
Here. O.K.?
O.k.?
Yo!
I feel like
a fucking piece
of bait in here!
Before you give him
the money,
tell him
I want a taste.
What, what?
He wants a taste.
Sure, he does.
I'm seein' angels.
Do it. Do it!
He's wired!
It's a setup!
Oh...oh! Aah!
Police! Drop it!
Freeze!
Hold it right there!
Drop your weapon!
Go on!
Get out of here!
Uh...ahh.
All right, everybody.
Porky is out of here.
Whoo!
All right!
Got me right
in the heart.
Hey, Joey!
All right, Mikey.
Show's over.
Mikey.
Mike.
Like you.
That was great.
Hey, pop,
it's all here...
Every
last dollar!
Yo!
You shot him!
What?
He's really been shot.
There's real bullets
in here, man.
I had the blanks.
I had the b--
I had the--
I had the blanks
in my gun!
What the hell
are you trying
to pull, Joe?
Get that gun.
Joe.
Son...get the cake.
My brother took the cake.
My brother
took the cake.
Your brother?
You go get it.
Bring it, bring it,
bring it, bring it.
Go get it for me.
Pop!
Pop?
Pop!
Come on,
let's go.
Pop!come on, Joe,
Joe, Joe.
Come on, Joe.
Got to go.
[Siren]
I didn't do it!
I had the blanks!
Pop!
We'd always been a team.
Pop called the shots,
and I carried the ball.
Without him, I went numb.
We're burying your father
in Potter's field.
He's already
in the box.
Wouldn't want the cops
snooping, would we?
I remember loading blanks.
There's no way
I would ever make
a mistake like that!
You were in charge
of the guns.
There's no way
I would make
a mistake like that.
Take it.
Take a look.
Go on.
It's huey's gun.
It's got
the blanks.
God...
Damn.
Tell me this is a dream
I'm gonna wake up from.
I feel real bad,
Joey.
Maybe I should have
double-checked
the chambers.
Sorry.
Here's your cut.
Got to get out of town,
set yourself up.
Fast, like
the rest of US.
Pete!
Pete!
Pete, did you
see the woman on my--
what was that?
I almost forgot.
This is all your father
had on him.
See ya.
Bus 59 leaving gate 5
in 15 minutes.
Bus 59 leaving gate 5...
I told myself
the woman at the grave
wasn't really there,
my scattered mind had
just dredged up a memory.
"Leave the past to them
who's stuck there,"
is what pop
would've told me.
"There ain't no money
in a memory."
The man was never
short on advice.
With his last breath,
he was still
telling me what to do.
He hadn't said
what the cake was,
but his address book
said where to start looking--
out west, where
his brother Lou would be.
I always remembered
being alone.
Pop and I spent
a lot of time on buses
moving from town to town,
waiting for
the heat to pass.
Pop was the teacher.
I was the student.
That was our relationship.
So it was a surprise to me
when I found the letter
he wrote to his brother Lou--
the brother I never
even knew he had.
Most of it was about
how much pop hated him.
Something had gone down
between the two brothers.
Looked like a woman
was the cause.
But the real shock
was that he said
he was proud of me
and that he loved me.
[Chuckles]
Now, that's not the pop
that I remembered.
Maybe it was the way
he used to be
before all he cared about
was turning a buck.
Maybe it was Lou
who had changed him.
That's what
I wanted to believe--
the big secret
I swore I'd uncover.
The coast was alive,
but I had no time
for the sights.
I was looking for something
to tip me off,
a break in the routine,
a place to start the hunt.
Appreciate it.
Mm-hmm.
What it is, my man.
What it is.
Hey, how you doing?
Do you have
a nice hot one?
Salted or unsalted?
I don't care...
Long as it's lucky.
Hope that's
hot enough for you.
So do I.
Ah, so do I.
I hope that
we get there
in time.
Hello.
Can I help you?
Um...coffee, please.
Regular or decaf?
Regular.
Hey...hey.
75 cents
for the coffee,
please.
Here you go.
Keep it.
You come here often?
No. It's
the first time.
Why do you ask?
I don't know.
Would you like
a nice maple
spiral doughnut
with your coffee?
They're heavenly.
Maybe some other time.
Thanks.
Hey, kid.
What's your name?
Mitch.
Want to make
an easy 20 bucks, Mitch?
For what?
I'm looking for
Lou donan.
Who's asking?
His nephew.
Pick a card.
I don't
think so.
You don't think so. Ha.
That's not very
sociable behavior.
Go on, pick a card.
Look, I'm a little
busy right now.
Take your game
someplace else.
Busy at the market.
Tell you what.
If it's a high card,
I'll tell you who I am,
and if it's
a low card,
I'll tell you
who you are.
Is that a deal?
Sure.
Joker.
Joker.
Hallelujah.
Praise the lord.
It's a hell of
a card trick.
Why don't you
get lost?
So you're
Lou's nephew, huh?
Yeah. That's right.
Yeah. That's right.
I didn't know
Lou had a nephew.
Well, you know it now.
Come on. Let's take
a walk, friend.
Get comfortable.
Damn, I love
watching people.
Damn! Business
really booming
out there, huh?
Look at all those
happy people. Ha ha ha!
You can learn a lot from...
Just watching people.
So...god, it's been...
30, 30 some-odd years
since I've...
Seen my nephew.
What's the matter,
cat got your
fuckin' tongue?
All this time, I...
I didn't even know
I had an uncle.
Well, then there's
a lot you don't know.
What did you want to
see me about, Joe?
Well, I, uh...
I've got some bad news
about my father.
He's, um...
He's dead.
Yes, I know.
Oh...
It must be
kind of a shock, huh?
Looks like you've
just seen a ghost,
friend.
Eddie, will you put
the gun down, please,
and get Joe
a glass of water?
[Telephone rings]
Yeah?
Yeah.
Yeah.
You're down.
All right.
Good luck.
Bye-bye.
So...how'd you
find me?
Um...i had to
go through some
of my father's stuff.
Your name was in
his address book,
so I hopped on a bus
to come out and see you.
Ah.
How did you know
about him?
Friend told me.
Didn't know much.
Said that, uh...
Mike had been killed
in some kind of con.
Maybe you can
fill me in.
What happened?
I don't really
know what happened.
He was off
doing his own thing.
Pop always had a few
irons of his own
in the fire.
I just, uh...
I wished I could
have been there,
you know?
Mike, Mike, Mike.
Never learned.
Even as kids,
he was always going
out on his own,
getting his hands dirty.
Tsk.
Hell, I'm sorry, Joe.
Yeah, well, thanks.
We were, uh...
We were a team.
There's not really
much left back there
for me now.
[Telephone rings]
Eddie, would you
get that, please?
[Ring]
Yeah.
Depends. Who's calling?
Yeah. The doctor's in.
How you fixed
for bread?
I'm all right.
You got
a place to crash?
Yeah, I got a...
Motel.
It's just
up the road.
Nice?
It's comfortable.
By god.
Listen, Joe, uh...
Why don't you go out
with Eddie tonight, huh?
[Eddie]
All right.
Yeah. Do a little
bar hopping.
He'll show you
around.
What do you think?
Uh, yeah.
That sounds like
a lot of fun...
Uncle Lou.
Uncle Lou?
Ho ho ho ho.
Uncle Lou.
I like it.
I like it!
First-rate.
It's really good
to see you, kid.
Yeah. Ha ha ha.
Lord, I'm free!
How long you been
working for Lou?
Couple of years,
friend.
Couple of
beautiful years.
Pretty nifty bookie
operation he's got
going there.
I set that up.
Wow.
That was a real
tough one for me
to spot.
Well, I guess
I'm just a real
shrewd guy, huh?
Yeah,
I guess you are.
You and Lou run
the whole market?
You know,
for a guy that's
just come into town,
you're sure asking
an awful lot of questions.
What are we doing?
My girl's
coming along.
You don't mind,
do you, friend?
I don't mind.
Diane,
this is Joe.
Joe, this is Diane.
Pleased to
meet you, Joe.
Pleased to meet you,
Diane.
I--I'm kind of
feeling all
tongue-tied.
I just don't
know what to--
aw, shucks.
Here.
Eddie.
Now that
we're all one big
happy family,
what do you say
we have some
fun-time family fun?
Sure.
What's the scheme?
Little pigeon
dropping.
You think you
can handle that,
friend?
Just tell me
what I have to do.
You pick up
the dropping.
It looked like
I had to pay my dues
by wilding with
uncle Lou's flunky.
[Car won't start]
This fucking
fucker's fucked!
Well, at least he was
a lively fellow.
O.k., what'll
you have?
I'd like de bottle
of your best champagne.
We only have shots
and beer, honey.
Well, I'll have two shots
of your finest whiskey.
"Shape the con,
or it'll shape you,"
pop would say.
Wise words my new friend
Eddie never learned.
He was the type
of bad-ass bluff man
that was stuck on the high
you get from the con,
and that's bad news.
Well, lovebirds,
here you go.
Ooh...
Gorgeous bracelet.
Great.
I got to tell ya,
this just keeps
coming.
Diane I couldn't read
beyond her sexy front,
which meant she was good.
Hey!
Handsome,
what'll you have?
Uh, I'll have a beer,
please.
Ah, shit!
Let's blow this joint.
You call it, baby.
I'm slain.
Bottoms up.
Pay phone?
Sure. Right back
there, honey.
Maybe you left it
at the restaurant.
I'm sure I had it
in here.
[Bartender]
Did you lose something?
No, we're fine.
Maybe I did leave it
in the restaurant.
I just said that before.
What's the matter?
Fuck, honey!
Listen...
[Clears throat]
My wife,
uh...Ahem...
My wife's
a little drunk,
and it's kind of
embarrassing,
but she's lost
a very special
bracelet tonight,
and, um...
And it's worth
a lot to me,
so if you should
find it...
If you could call me
at this number...
Uh-huh.
Could we hurry up?
And, uh...
I'll give you $500.
Oh...sure.
Come on.
Where'd you find that?
I found it on the floor
in the phone booth.
That's my bracelet.
I lost it.
No, it's not.
I'll give you $50
for that bracelet.
50 bucks for this?
All right. 100?
200.
O.k.
Whoo!
Thank you, lady.
Yeah.
You take care
of yourself.
What the hell was
that all about, Sam?
I just made myself $300.
That's what that's about.
Oh, boy!
Ooh, boy!
Ooh!
[Telephone ringing]
It's ringing.
It's ringing.
[Beeping]
We're sorry.
You have reached a number
that has been disconnected
or is no longer in service.
Great night.
Great
fucking night.
I got to
get some gum.
Would you like
a piece of gum?
No. Thank you.
Are you sure?
No chiclets?
Maybe I don't have
the same cravings
as you, Eddie.
Ooh.
Ooh.
Look,
come here, you.
Oh.
Mmm...
Mommy...
Mommy...
We'll go home
soon, mommy.
We'll
go home soon.
What a guy.
Helps pass the time.
There's more to life
than just passing time,
isn't there, Diane?
Maybe we're both
just running around
in circles...
And just
happen to touch.
The sun and the moon
do that.
They call it
an eclipse.
Well, if you think
he's up to it...
I think
he's a little soft.
O.k.
O.k.
Well, we'll throw him
a knuckle ball. Why not?
All right.
Hello?
♪ They play their drums
and things ♪
♪ they know
you want to hear ♪
♪ and treat you like
their closest friend ♪
♪ they take
your hopes and dreams ♪
♪ with plans
that aren't too clear ♪
♪ so they can screw you
in the end ♪
♪ and when they're through
with you... ♪
Hey, Eddie.
Hey, darlin'.
How about a bottle
of suds for me
and my friend here?
Classy joint.
Yeah. Ha ha ha.
Valley of the vixens.
So what's the scoop?
Is the baby here tonight?
Baby's over
in the corner.
Looks rugged.
Hmm...
Looks rugged.
He is rugged.
The baby's about
three months behind
on his payments.
He owes Lou 1,500.
Is that right?
Yeah, that's right.
And you're going to
get it from him.
Excuse me?
Lou thinks
you might be hard.
Time to kiss
the baby, friend.
Waaaah.
♪ Suspicion rises
with the sun ♪
♪ those friends
of happiness ♪
♪ have turned
into illusion ♪
♪ but then again you start
to believe in someone ♪
♪ how many times before
you come to understand ♪
♪ you can't fool no one
♪ you better cover
your shoulder... ♪
You're
in my light, cuz.
You must be the baby.
Give me a lollipop,
baby.
Cherry?
You know me.
I hear you owe
Lou donan $1,500.
So?
So I'm here for it.
Who the hell are you?
Where's Joe?
He's mincemeat.
Baby's going
to put his head
on a platter.
What are you up to,
Eddie?
[Snorting]
I'm not getting off.
I'm not getting off.
Jesus Christ!
You know,
you're disgusting
with that shit.
I'm not getting off.
[Coughs]
Baby.
All right.
Yeah.
Where to now, Eddie?
Where's the money?
I think I'll give it
to Lou myself.
Good night, Joe.
Good night, Diane.
Eddie was kid stuff.
Lou was the real deal.
He was as clever as pop,
a true pro of the high con.
I saw that right away.
And he had something big
in the works
that was going down soon.
You pick up on these things
when you're in the game
long enough.
I had to find a clue
that would lead me
to the cake
or at least tell me
what the hell the cake was.
What's he up to?
I thought about
the two brothers
and what could have
driven them apart.
Then I found the picture
I saw in my father's bag.
This time it wasn't ripped.
There was my mother
standing between pop
and uncle Lou,
both holding her
like bookends.
I got to tell you,
it gave me a chill.
Get the cake.
My brother took
the cake.
Did my mother
have something to do
with all this?
Was that why
Lou was torn away
from my pop's photo?
I didn't know it then,
but that photo was the hook
that would send me deeper
into the shadows,
squinting for the truth.
Open your eyes, Joe.
You might find
what you've been
looking for.
Who says
I'm looking?
I do.
Unless
you've been out late
being a naughty boy.
Need a naughty girl
for that.
How about her?
That's different.
That's
an old girlfriend.
Oh.
Romantic...
Living in the past.
Not really.
Of course not.
Eyes on tomorrow.
Looking to score big.
Break
a young girl's heart.
You have a way
with words.
Are you going
to drink that,
or are you going
to let it evaporate?
You think
you know me, Diane?
I want to.
What about
your friend Eddie?
Make me forget him.
How long
until you forget me?
Treat me right,
maybe never.
Tempting words...
If I were a sucker.
I'm playing you
straight, Joe.
Drop it, Diane.
I know what you are.
The question is,
why are you here?
What do you want?
You're hurting me.
Well, the truth
can be painful.
I'm sorry.
It's just the way
I operate, you know?
Took a dozen Eddies.
You're different...
Stronger. You're...
I shouldn't have
played it that way.
It was a mistake.
Just don't tell Eddie
I was here, o.K.?
Diane...
You don't have to
hook people.
You don't know me.
I don't have anyone.
I don't have
any uncle Lou.
I don't have
any back home.
I got me alone,
and that's it.
I do what I got to do
to survive.
All right. Listen.
I'm sorry.
Maybe I made a mistake.
I know what it feels
like to be alone.
I don't sleep with Eddie.
That's nice to know.
What was she like,
the girl in the locket?
I barely remember her.
So why do you
carry it then?
It's just kind of
a reminder, I guess.
Of what?
Things we're still
looking for.
Like?
Like, um...
Like I lied to you.
It's not
an old girlfriend.
It's my mother.
She died
when I was a baby.
You...
You are so sweet.
I could get used to you.
I got to go.
Why?
Eddie would kill US
if he found out.
I'm not ready for that.
I'm not sure...
That I'm ready...
For you.
Sleep on it.
You'll get used to it.
The next day
was uncle Lou's birthday.
I took advantage of it
to get in closer.
I had a mission
to complete for pop.
You know,
I don't remember
ever having a better ham
than this one.
Really.
Now I really see
the family
resemblance.
He's just like
a donan--
so polite and
handsome, too.
I don't think
I can take it
with two donans
in one room.
I'm getting
all woozy.
Well, listen,
before you pass out, baby,
how about getting US
some fresh coffee?
Oh, o.K., Louie.
Ha ha ha ha ha!
She is something.
Yeah. She sure is.
I found her
slinging hash
at one of those
truck stops
out on
the interstate.
She really
filled that
little uniform out.
She was so fine.
Oh...
She poured me
a cup of coffee.
Best damn coffee
I've ever tasted.
She said
she made it herself.
That
was the clincher.
Been together
ever since.
♪ You get another candle
on your birthday cake ♪
Oh, blanche,
what is this?
♪ You're another
year older ♪
What are you doing?
You know how i--
what's all the fuss?
My god.
Make a wish.
Hey, come on.
You know i--
make a wish.
Listen, blanche,
I don't like--
this is terrible.
I mean--
just make a wish.
You know I hate this.
It's your
birthday, Lou.
Yeah. Well, o.K.
Now look--
if Joe helps me,
because it's Mike's
birthday, too. O.K.?
Sure. Love to.
Ahh...
Yay!
Beautiful.
Well, it's sure as hell
a pretty cake
you made there, blanche.
Thank you, Louie.
Oh, boy.
Your favorite.
Nice little horsies
on there, too, huh?
Of course I put
the horsies
on there.
I'm sorry about
your father, Joe.
Crazy broad.
But I love her.
I do love her.
Happy birthday,
uncle Lou.
What's this?
The baby
sends his regards.
Eddie's been trying
to get that money
from him
for months,
and--and you...
Eddie's not a donan.
You bet
he's not a donan.
[Heavy metal music plays]
Mommy. Mommy.
Where's the Sam
fucking peckinpah?
Mommy...
I'll be damned.
All fucking
summer long, sugar.
All summer long.
What's your
problem, boy?
I thought
we were settled.
We are with that,
baby.
There's nothing
to worry about.
What the hell you
bothering me for?
The baby's a little
cranky tonight, huh?
Yeah.
I don't dig looking
at your ugly face.
Now your partner,
he was a cool dude.
Cool enough
to get the baby
to burp up 1,500?
I didn't pay him
Jack shit.
What are you
talking about?
You cleared your debt.
He told me
all I had to do
was walk outside
and shake his hand,
and I was even.
Are you telling me that
was his fucking money?
Somebody's
after your job, boy.
I bet he even
stole your woman!
What the fuck
are you talking about?
Sit down.
Fuckers! Fuckers!
What the fuck
are you looking at?
Hey, man!
[Glass breaks]
Fuck!
Watch it, pal.
You want to fuck,
huh? Huh?
Fucker!
Hi-fucking-yaah!
Fuck!
Hey, Mr. Rock 'n' roll.
Let's wiggle and dance.
First you turn blue,
and then you shit
in your pants.
Aah!
Hey!
Let's fuck! Let's fuck, huh?
Nice and hard! Aah!
Get up, bitch!
Come on, bitch!
All right! All right!
O.k., baby girl,
who sent ya?
Who sent ya?
Sam...
Fucking peckinpah.
Aah!
Rrr-aah!
Someone tried
to kill me, man! Uhhn!
Who'd try
to kill you, Eddie?
The fucking hangers!
Let me get you a drink.
[Babbling]
I didn't know
you smoked cigars, babe,
particularly this brand.
Eddie, it's really
not what you think.
Shut up!
Shut the fuck
up, man!
[Sniffing]
[Sobbing]
Who you been
fucking now, man?
Aah! I'm here! I'm here!
Aah! Aah! Aah! Aah!
Yeah! Yeah! Yeah!
No! No! No!
Aah! Aah! Aah!
[Sobbing]
What am I, a fucking
retard, man?
Am I a
fucking retard, huh?
I know what this is!
Lou tried
to snuff me out
because of his
crazy little nephew
being around!
Well, vive la
fucking France, man!
I bet I was
the last person
you were planning
on seeing tonight. Aah!
Get out.
I'd really love
a reason to
blow you away,
so get out.
[Door closes]
6 of spades...
Ace of clubs...
Queen of diamonds...
Ace of hearts.
Shit!
[Knock on door]
Joe!
Diane?
What?
Joe,
we're in trouble.
Eddie thinks
I'm sleeping with Lou.
Why? What happened?
I don't know.
He tried to kill me,
and now he's gone
after your uncle.
Damn.
You wait here.
And lock the door.
It's a crazy fucking
world we live in,
captain Jack!
Eddie, what the hell
is this?
You filthy
double-crossing
little fucking filthy
double-crossing
filthy fucking goddamn
fucking filthy little prick!
What the hell has
gotten into you, man?
"What the hell's
gotten into you?"
Oh,
that's really good.
That's like
a poker face.
Pick a card!
Are you cracking up?
What is it?
What the hell?
Pick the fucking card!
Eddie, I don't know
what's gotten into you.
In a couple of days,
you and I are going
to make a bundle of money.
Eddie, come on.
Don't blow it now.
Put the gun down.
Show me the joker.
Come on.
Put the gun down.
Just show me
the fucking joker.
Well, Halle-
fucking-lujah, man!
The joker's wild!
You're trying
to trick me
out of the game
and squeeze in
your nephew!
Well, who's
sitting behind
your desk now?
I'm behind your
fucking desk! Me!
This is about Joe?
Oh...god, Eddie, af--
after all we've been
through together? Come on.
Bullshit. Bullshit.
Jesus god, you stupid
fucking hothead!
Come on. What is this?
What the hell
is this?
I'll show you
a fucking hothead, man!
I'll show you
a hothead!
Put the gun down,
Eddie.
[Babbling]
Asshole!
[Muffled]
You want to fuck?
You want to fuck?
Huh?
We fuck now!
We fuck now!
Motherfucker.
Hey.
Joe.
Joe.
Joe, come here.
God damn it,
get me out of here.
Jesus Christ.
Eddie was a key player
in a job I've been
planning for six months.
He was supposed
to bring in the Mark.
Dangerous con,
but a hell of a lot
of money involved.
Son of a bitch.
Here. We can
just leave him.
That son of a bitch.
We got to
get out of here.
Joe, god damn it.
Listen, you might
have to help me
on this one, kid.
Uh...
What do you need?
I need somebody to
bring in the Mark.
It's the classic
possum trap, man.
You'll
have to kill me--
well, fake my death.
You know the game.
But, uh...
What do you think?
I don't know, Lou.
I think you better find
one of your other guys.
They're in another
class altogether, man.
You can do it.
Hey, Joe...
You're all I got.
Why'd I leave it open?
Why didn't I say no
right there?
'Cause I remembered pop
setting up
the same damn con
and telling me my part.
He'd never let me say no.
O.k.
Take it easy.
Joe?
Diane?
What the hell is this?
You point a gun at me?
I thought Eddie
might come back.
Eddie's dead.
What?
Eddie's dead,
and Lou owns me.
What happened?
I don't know.
What do you mean,
you don't know?
I don't know!
Something's going down.
I can feel it.
It's too easy.
I just got
to figure out what.
Figure what?
Enough
with the questions!
We're in this
together!
In what together?
You know something
I don't know?
You're paranoid.
'Cause you pointed
a gun at me.
Don't push me, Joe.
Why did you
point a gun at me?
You're scaring me.
I'm sorry, Diane.
Lou's got a con
straight
out of my past.
I don't know whether
to face it or bolt.
Why not both?
What do you mean?
Take care of business
and then start over,
like me now
that Eddie's gone.
A new beginning.
Yeah.
A new beginning.
Leave the past
to the people
who are stuck there.
[Airplane propeller
starting]
[Footsteps]
[Woman]
Joey...
Ha ha ha ha!
Joey, where
are you going?
Ha ha ha!
Joey, I love you.
Joey...
I love you...
Joey...
Leave the past to people
who are stuck there.
When Lou filled me in
on the mystery
of the cake,
I couldn't find it
in my heart
to take it from him.
I had this made
for your mother.
I was
in love with her.
We were going
to be married.
But I never
gave it to her
because...
My brother...
Your father...
Well...well,
he was kind of stuck
between the two
of US, and...
And he stole her
away from me,
so, uh...
God,
I loved your mother.
More than anyone
I have ever known.
Certainly
more than my brother.
I guess we were kind of
like Cain and Abel.
Anyway, I, uh,
want you to have this.
It, uh...
Well, maybe you'll
find some girl
as pretty
as your mother was,
and you can
give it to her.
Huh?
I'll tell you what.
Why don't you
keep it for me?
Sure.
Anytime you want it.
You know...
If things had been different,
you could have been...
You could have
been my boy.
You know, when this
is all over...
Why don't you come
with blanche and me?
We're going
down to Tahiti.
We'll get
to know each other
a little better.
Sure. I'd like that.
Yeah.
I'd like that, too.
Sit down. Let's get
down to business.
Who's the Mark?
A man named Dr. Lyme.
He deals
in hot diamonds, solo.
He was hipped to me
by my old friend
Harry Shaw.
I've heard of Harry.
Yeah?
Harry
was in on the game,
except his old heart
gave out, and--
anyway...
Here's the bait.
Watch. Wear that.
Some bread.
Here's the kicker.
Wow. It's a beauty.
Now, that is real, man.
Boy, that is beautiful.
How's your pool game?
Not too good.
Aha. Perfect. Perfect.
On the way over,
I went through the reasons
for turning back,
and I almost did.
But the moment I heard
the crack of the cue balls,
I was committed.
The job was up to me,
just like the old days.
Like it or not,
I was home.
Billiards.
$1,000.
Is that per game
or per point?
Whatever.
Per point
would be fine.
25 to win?
Sure.
I prefer playing
on this table,
if that's
all right with you.
And, uh,
why is that?
A little more private,
it's the right temperature,
and...
It's a corsair.
Sausage,
set it up.
One of the rare occasions
in which 1...Plus 1...
Equals 1.
Shall we lag?
Sure.
I didn't catch
your name, Mr., uh...
Joe.
My pleasure,
Mr. Joe.
The name's
Morgan gripp.
But people
call me fats.
This was Sam's game.
Samuel langhorne clemens.
You know, Mark twain.
The genius
behind huck Finn,
Tom Sawyer,
a personal favorite
of mine--
a Connecticut yankee
in king Arthur's court.
He used to play whenever
he had writer's block.
Said it was
good for the brain.
I don't think
I've seen you
around here before.
No. I'm not
from around here.
That makes sense.
Welcome to paradise,
Mr. Joe.
It's all geometry,
really--
isosceles triangles,
Pentagons,
octagons,
et cetera,
et cetera.
But that,
that, my friend...
Is poetry.
Let's see.
That's...
24.
1 more would be 25.
Ah-choo!
Your turn now,
Mr. Joe.
Very nice.
Whoo.
Tough break.
Must have been
the pressure.
You bring a good man
to his knees, you know?
If there were
a fat lady in here,
I think she'd be
clearing her throat
right...
About...
Now.
Score that...
25 to 1.
Let's see.
At a thousand a point,
that would be, uh...
Oh, yes,
$24,000 you owe me,
Mr. Joe.
I, um...
I, uh, I don't have it.
Well, this
adds a new wrinkle
to our relationship.
Ahem.
I'm good for it.
A classic line.
However,
it just won't do.
Uh, listen, uh, here...
It's worth 25,000 easy.
I'm not a harlequin, Joe.
Look at it.
Those are
real diamonds.
Real diamonds.
Fortunately,
I have a way
to check this out.
If it isn't worth
what you claim,
then I'm afraid you're not
going to be worth much.
I think you should join
these two gentlemen now.
It was nice...
Playing with you.
[Chuckles]
Goddamn.
I'm good.
[Mechanical buzzing]
I see you're fond
of fine jewelry.
This is
an exquisite watch.
How did you happen
to acquire it?
Would you believe
I won that in
a card game?
Took it off a guy
named Harry Shaw.
My good friend Harry?
Yes, I just spoke
with him last week.
Really?
That's interesting.
He's been dead
for over a year.
Major faux pas indeed.
Would you like a drink,
Mr...
Thompson.
Joe Thompson.
Yeah. I think
I could use a drink.
Davida, a whiskey
for Mr. Thompson
and a small Espresso
for me, please.
Your man Mr. Gripp,
he's a hell of
a billiards player.
Yes, a true virtuoso
of the game.
I fear that
you didn't give him
quite a fair challenge.
Didn't I?
So,
what can I do for you,
Mr. Thompson?
Well, for starters...
Take a look at that.
Let me see that diamond.
"D"...
Flawless.
Yep.
5 carats.
In many lands
it is believed
that a spirit
lives inside the diamond.
That is why it has such...
Sparkle.
There are a lot
more spirits where
that one came from.
29 more, to be exact.
I'm listening,
Mr. Thompson.
After our card game,
Harry and I became
pretty good friends.
He said if I ever fell
into anything big,
you were the man to see.
A texan I'd done
some business with,
he's got some ice
just...Way too hot
for him.
A texan?
I think I can get
all 30 for 2.
$2 million is a tidy sum.
And what, pray tell,
will you gain from this,
Mr. Thompson?
Whatever you think
is fair.
Joie de vivre.
I haven't seen quality
like this for...Ages.
60 grand a carat.
That's
$9 million worth
for the price of 2.
You have seduced me.
You have a deal.
Shake.
[Buzz]
How did you know
I wasn't going to
snip off your fingers?
I didn't.
Never cross the line,
Joe.
Never cross the line.
What do you think?
It's inspiring.
Yeah?
Well, don't get
too used to it,
'cause the minute
we get up the coast,
it's coming off...
Fast.
Not fast enough.
First there's the job.
Second thoughts?
I was in this con
once before.
It backfired...
Bad.
But Lou's
counting on you.
Yeah, there's Lou,
there's a second chance
at the con,
there's a whole mess
of things you don't
know anything about
pushing me into this job.
Then there's you.
I'm falling in love
with you.
You better be careful
throwing around words
like that.
Why?
I might want you
to take me away
right now.
I will.
In the morning.
Let's go now.
Mmm.
You're tempting me.
Let's go.
In the morning.
I'm in too far now
to fold.
I love you, Joe.
I'll see you soon.
[Door closes]
Hello.
Hello.
What have you
been up to?
Not much.
Would you like some
coffee and doughnuts--
on the house?
Maybe
some other time.
O.k. Well,
stop by anytime.
Hey, patsy.
Hey, Joe.
How you doing?
I'm a little
nervous.
It's a big night
tonight.
Are you ready?
Yeah.
Of course I'm ready.
Good.
Let's go.
What is it with her
anyway?
Holly?
The doughnut girl?
Between you and me,
I think she's got
a crush on you.
So do me a favor.
Stay away from her,
o.K.?
I really like her.
I mean...
They don't come
any sweeter
than that.
Sure, patsy.
Thanks, Joe.
The hook was in.
Dr. Lyme was ripe
for the taking.
The biggest job of my life,
and all I could think about
was getting it over with
and then getting out.
O.k.
Joe, you pick 'em.
Ha ha ha ha!
First-rate, kid.
First-rate.
Now, these were a gift
from old Harry Shaw.
Now, I don't want
to let him down.
Why don't we sell them
and forget the whole thing?
Be quiet
and pay attention.
This is important.
You have to show money
to make money.
And tonight's haul,
gentlemen,
is $2 million.
Yeah. I like
the sound of that.
Me, too.
Joe hooked the claw.
Now we're going
to reel him in
and throw him in
the frying pan.
Everything o.K.
At your end, patsy?
I'm all set, Lou.
After the first shot,
you have to be
on the scene.
You'll cover our behinds.
Everybody takes
their cue from Joe.
Joe, as soon as you get
your hands on that cash,
you have to move fast.
If you don't kill me,
Dr. Lyme
sure as hell will.
Yeah.
O.k., kid?
Yeah.
O.k.
Let's drink.
My last con.
Couldn't believe
I was ready
to trade in the rackets
for a chance with Diane.
Somehow I felt I was
doing it for pop also,
making a break
from the lifestyle
that had chased US
all over the country
and sucked up
all our time together.
Wealth...
Power...
God.
They all have
a distinct...
[Sniff]
Aroma.
But none as sweet
as death.
I hope your cowboy
comes through for you,
Mr. Thompson.
I work for you.
If it works for him,
that's just icing
on the cake.
You humor me with your
ingratiating enthusiasm.
For the sake of argument,
if by chance
something did go wrong,
it would be...
Because I wanted it
that way.
Harry.
We want to
check them out.
Hell, yes, I'll show 'em
a couple.
You come and pick 'em.
Nice.
I want those stones back...
Pronto.
Beautiful.
Beautiful.
Beautiful.
And the others.
We want to see
the others.
Ho ho.
Come on. Let's just
make this simple,
shall we, now?
Show me the money.
I show you
the diamonds.
Easy, huh?
You'll see the money
when we check out
the rest of the diamonds.
Bull crap, man!
This game is off.
Give me my diamonds back.
Give me my goddamn diamonds
back, now!
Come on!
What the hell you doing?
Give them to me.
I know
what I'm doing.
You want these back, huh?
Damn right!
I think
I'll hold on to them
for all our trouble.
You son of a bitch!
What the hell you
trying to pull here?
I told you I'd deliver,
and I did--
Mr. Thompson.
Open it.
All right.
Here's the deal.
I hold the money
until my boss tells me
the goods are undamaged.
When he gives me the sign,
you get paid.
All right.
Come and get 'em.
Candy from a baby.
Anything goes wrong...
Kill them all.
He's wired!
It's a setup!
Do it. Do it.
Aah!
No!
Hold it! FBI!
Joe, go down!
Jesus!
Get my bloody money!
Aah!
[Motor whirs]
When things fall apart
is when people stagger
to whatever's familiar,
the same way a bull charges
at a red cape
after being stabbed
a dozen times or so.
Wait!
I'm sorry, Joe.
Diane!
Played him
like a pro, doll.
Shut up!
Long time no see,
Joe.
Glad you came.
Hello, Joe.
What do you know?
Pop?
Pete,
get the cake.
You did good,
Joe.
Aha!
Ah!
My god!
My, my, my.
Whoo!
Frank...
There's
your taste.
Good con.
See you on
the next trip.
Call me anytime.
Pete...
It's always
a pleasure
working with you.
The pleasure's
mine, Mikey.
Ha ha!
See you soon.
Real good, Joe.
And you, babe.
Here's your cut.
I don't want the money.
Strictly
business,
baby.
Take it...
And go.
The rest...
Is ours.
Your brother's dead.
Yeah?
Ha.
Well, well, well,
well, well.
Why?
Well, I'm sorry, Joe.
I couldn't fill you in.
You see,
this is the only way
it could work.
I did what I had to do.
It was just another Mark.
You pinpoint a Mark,
you take him
for everything he has...
Any way you can.
We just made
the biggest score
of our lives, kid.
$2 fucking million,
son.
Don't you ever
call me that.
Hey,
what the hell is that?
[Music plays]
Hey, now, don't point
that goddamn thing at me!
Joe, just stop.
Just stop and think
for a minute.
Isn't this
the best goddamn con
you've ever seen
in your life?
I mean,
with your own eyes?
It's up there, man!
It was something special.
We did it together,
kid.
We did it, man!
What'd you think
of Diane, huh?
Wasn't that a nice touch?
I mean,
she looked so much
like your mother...
Wow!
It all just fell into place
like magic.
There was
no turning around.
He deserved every
goddamn thing he got.
He took your mother
away from you, man!
Jesus!
She didn't die
when you were born.
He killed her!
He killed her with
one of his goddamn cons!
Damn near killed me,
too.
It's you and me now,
Joe.
Come on!
It's you and me.
US against them.
Put the goddamn gun down!
Put it down...
Please!
Are they blanks...
Or are they real?
Hell...
I love you, son.
Aah!
Goddamn!
Oh!
God...
Damn it!
Most people
never feel the strings
that gently tug them
day in and day out.
Mine had been jerked
every which way
before I cut 'em loose
and left a tangled mess
going around in circles
with my pop
and all that cash
I wanted no part of.
It was a colorful world
I was walking away from,
but nothing in it
was real--
not my pop,
not the bastards
who'd helped dupe me,
not Diane,
who almost broke my heart.
All I took from them
were memories--
images, really.
They're worth more than
any take from any con.
They keep me honest.
like to think
they have some degree
of control over their lives.
The truth is,
we're all subject
to the influence of others.
Those who appreciate this
can make a lot of money
from those who don't.
But any small-time grifter
who ever dealt off
the bottom of a deck
can tell you that.
I can tell you about
the price one pays
for peddling confidence,
how every Mark you fleece
takes away another
piece of your soul
and what happens
when you try to
pick up the pieces.
I'm risking
50 grand here!
50 grand
for $500,000 worth.
You having
second thoughts?
You give me
the word,
I'll turn this car
around.
I work for you.
If you got a bad
feeling about this,
let's just go home.
Hey.
I'm a big shot, see?
I can chance it.
You're the man.
The beginning of the end
started out normally enough.
I was in the middle
of a deal,
trustworthy as ever.
My pop used to say
I was the best loyalty
man he'd ever seen.
I played
the all-American boy.
People thought they could
pull the wool over my eyes.
Well, that was my con,
and it never failed.
Ahem. Let's see it.
Give me a break,
will ya?
Here. O.K.?
O.k.?
Yo!
I feel like
a fucking piece
of bait in here!
Before you give him
the money,
tell him
I want a taste.
What, what?
He wants a taste.
Sure, he does.
I'm seein' angels.
Do it. Do it!
He's wired!
It's a setup!
Oh...oh! Aah!
Police! Drop it!
Freeze!
Hold it right there!
Drop your weapon!
Go on!
Get out of here!
Uh...ahh.
All right, everybody.
Porky is out of here.
Whoo!
All right!
Got me right
in the heart.
Hey, Joey!
All right, Mikey.
Show's over.
Mikey.
Mike.
Like you.
That was great.
Hey, pop,
it's all here...
Every
last dollar!
Yo!
You shot him!
What?
He's really been shot.
There's real bullets
in here, man.
I had the blanks.
I had the b--
I had the--
I had the blanks
in my gun!
What the hell
are you trying
to pull, Joe?
Get that gun.
Joe.
Son...get the cake.
My brother took the cake.
My brother
took the cake.
Your brother?
You go get it.
Bring it, bring it,
bring it, bring it.
Go get it for me.
Pop!
Pop?
Pop!
Come on,
let's go.
Pop!come on, Joe,
Joe, Joe.
Come on, Joe.
Got to go.
[Siren]
I didn't do it!
I had the blanks!
Pop!
We'd always been a team.
Pop called the shots,
and I carried the ball.
Without him, I went numb.
We're burying your father
in Potter's field.
He's already
in the box.
Wouldn't want the cops
snooping, would we?
I remember loading blanks.
There's no way
I would ever make
a mistake like that!
You were in charge
of the guns.
There's no way
I would make
a mistake like that.
Take it.
Take a look.
Go on.
It's huey's gun.
It's got
the blanks.
God...
Damn.
Tell me this is a dream
I'm gonna wake up from.
I feel real bad,
Joey.
Maybe I should have
double-checked
the chambers.
Sorry.
Here's your cut.
Got to get out of town,
set yourself up.
Fast, like
the rest of US.
Pete!
Pete!
Pete, did you
see the woman on my--
what was that?
I almost forgot.
This is all your father
had on him.
See ya.
Bus 59 leaving gate 5
in 15 minutes.
Bus 59 leaving gate 5...
I told myself
the woman at the grave
wasn't really there,
my scattered mind had
just dredged up a memory.
"Leave the past to them
who's stuck there,"
is what pop
would've told me.
"There ain't no money
in a memory."
The man was never
short on advice.
With his last breath,
he was still
telling me what to do.
He hadn't said
what the cake was,
but his address book
said where to start looking--
out west, where
his brother Lou would be.
I always remembered
being alone.
Pop and I spent
a lot of time on buses
moving from town to town,
waiting for
the heat to pass.
Pop was the teacher.
I was the student.
That was our relationship.
So it was a surprise to me
when I found the letter
he wrote to his brother Lou--
the brother I never
even knew he had.
Most of it was about
how much pop hated him.
Something had gone down
between the two brothers.
Looked like a woman
was the cause.
But the real shock
was that he said
he was proud of me
and that he loved me.
[Chuckles]
Now, that's not the pop
that I remembered.
Maybe it was the way
he used to be
before all he cared about
was turning a buck.
Maybe it was Lou
who had changed him.
That's what
I wanted to believe--
the big secret
I swore I'd uncover.
The coast was alive,
but I had no time
for the sights.
I was looking for something
to tip me off,
a break in the routine,
a place to start the hunt.
Appreciate it.
Mm-hmm.
What it is, my man.
What it is.
Hey, how you doing?
Do you have
a nice hot one?
Salted or unsalted?
I don't care...
Long as it's lucky.
Hope that's
hot enough for you.
So do I.
Ah, so do I.
I hope that
we get there
in time.
Hello.
Can I help you?
Um...coffee, please.
Regular or decaf?
Regular.
Hey...hey.
75 cents
for the coffee,
please.
Here you go.
Keep it.
You come here often?
No. It's
the first time.
Why do you ask?
I don't know.
Would you like
a nice maple
spiral doughnut
with your coffee?
They're heavenly.
Maybe some other time.
Thanks.
Hey, kid.
What's your name?
Mitch.
Want to make
an easy 20 bucks, Mitch?
For what?
I'm looking for
Lou donan.
Who's asking?
His nephew.
Pick a card.
I don't
think so.
You don't think so. Ha.
That's not very
sociable behavior.
Go on, pick a card.
Look, I'm a little
busy right now.
Take your game
someplace else.
Busy at the market.
Tell you what.
If it's a high card,
I'll tell you who I am,
and if it's
a low card,
I'll tell you
who you are.
Is that a deal?
Sure.
Joker.
Joker.
Hallelujah.
Praise the lord.
It's a hell of
a card trick.
Why don't you
get lost?
So you're
Lou's nephew, huh?
Yeah. That's right.
Yeah. That's right.
I didn't know
Lou had a nephew.
Well, you know it now.
Come on. Let's take
a walk, friend.
Get comfortable.
Damn, I love
watching people.
Damn! Business
really booming
out there, huh?
Look at all those
happy people. Ha ha ha!
You can learn a lot from...
Just watching people.
So...god, it's been...
30, 30 some-odd years
since I've...
Seen my nephew.
What's the matter,
cat got your
fuckin' tongue?
All this time, I...
I didn't even know
I had an uncle.
Well, then there's
a lot you don't know.
What did you want to
see me about, Joe?
Well, I, uh...
I've got some bad news
about my father.
He's, um...
He's dead.
Yes, I know.
Oh...
It must be
kind of a shock, huh?
Looks like you've
just seen a ghost,
friend.
Eddie, will you put
the gun down, please,
and get Joe
a glass of water?
[Telephone rings]
Yeah?
Yeah.
Yeah.
You're down.
All right.
Good luck.
Bye-bye.
So...how'd you
find me?
Um...i had to
go through some
of my father's stuff.
Your name was in
his address book,
so I hopped on a bus
to come out and see you.
Ah.
How did you know
about him?
Friend told me.
Didn't know much.
Said that, uh...
Mike had been killed
in some kind of con.
Maybe you can
fill me in.
What happened?
I don't really
know what happened.
He was off
doing his own thing.
Pop always had a few
irons of his own
in the fire.
I just, uh...
I wished I could
have been there,
you know?
Mike, Mike, Mike.
Never learned.
Even as kids,
he was always going
out on his own,
getting his hands dirty.
Tsk.
Hell, I'm sorry, Joe.
Yeah, well, thanks.
We were, uh...
We were a team.
There's not really
much left back there
for me now.
[Telephone rings]
Eddie, would you
get that, please?
[Ring]
Yeah.
Depends. Who's calling?
Yeah. The doctor's in.
How you fixed
for bread?
I'm all right.
You got
a place to crash?
Yeah, I got a...
Motel.
It's just
up the road.
Nice?
It's comfortable.
By god.
Listen, Joe, uh...
Why don't you go out
with Eddie tonight, huh?
[Eddie]
All right.
Yeah. Do a little
bar hopping.
He'll show you
around.
What do you think?
Uh, yeah.
That sounds like
a lot of fun...
Uncle Lou.
Uncle Lou?
Ho ho ho ho.
Uncle Lou.
I like it.
I like it!
First-rate.
It's really good
to see you, kid.
Yeah. Ha ha ha.
Lord, I'm free!
How long you been
working for Lou?
Couple of years,
friend.
Couple of
beautiful years.
Pretty nifty bookie
operation he's got
going there.
I set that up.
Wow.
That was a real
tough one for me
to spot.
Well, I guess
I'm just a real
shrewd guy, huh?
Yeah,
I guess you are.
You and Lou run
the whole market?
You know,
for a guy that's
just come into town,
you're sure asking
an awful lot of questions.
What are we doing?
My girl's
coming along.
You don't mind,
do you, friend?
I don't mind.
Diane,
this is Joe.
Joe, this is Diane.
Pleased to
meet you, Joe.
Pleased to meet you,
Diane.
I--I'm kind of
feeling all
tongue-tied.
I just don't
know what to--
aw, shucks.
Here.
Eddie.
Now that
we're all one big
happy family,
what do you say
we have some
fun-time family fun?
Sure.
What's the scheme?
Little pigeon
dropping.
You think you
can handle that,
friend?
Just tell me
what I have to do.
You pick up
the dropping.
It looked like
I had to pay my dues
by wilding with
uncle Lou's flunky.
[Car won't start]
This fucking
fucker's fucked!
Well, at least he was
a lively fellow.
O.k., what'll
you have?
I'd like de bottle
of your best champagne.
We only have shots
and beer, honey.
Well, I'll have two shots
of your finest whiskey.
"Shape the con,
or it'll shape you,"
pop would say.
Wise words my new friend
Eddie never learned.
He was the type
of bad-ass bluff man
that was stuck on the high
you get from the con,
and that's bad news.
Well, lovebirds,
here you go.
Ooh...
Gorgeous bracelet.
Great.
I got to tell ya,
this just keeps
coming.
Diane I couldn't read
beyond her sexy front,
which meant she was good.
Hey!
Handsome,
what'll you have?
Uh, I'll have a beer,
please.
Ah, shit!
Let's blow this joint.
You call it, baby.
I'm slain.
Bottoms up.
Pay phone?
Sure. Right back
there, honey.
Maybe you left it
at the restaurant.
I'm sure I had it
in here.
[Bartender]
Did you lose something?
No, we're fine.
Maybe I did leave it
in the restaurant.
I just said that before.
What's the matter?
Fuck, honey!
Listen...
[Clears throat]
My wife,
uh...Ahem...
My wife's
a little drunk,
and it's kind of
embarrassing,
but she's lost
a very special
bracelet tonight,
and, um...
And it's worth
a lot to me,
so if you should
find it...
If you could call me
at this number...
Uh-huh.
Could we hurry up?
And, uh...
I'll give you $500.
Oh...sure.
Come on.
Where'd you find that?
I found it on the floor
in the phone booth.
That's my bracelet.
I lost it.
No, it's not.
I'll give you $50
for that bracelet.
50 bucks for this?
All right. 100?
200.
O.k.
Whoo!
Thank you, lady.
Yeah.
You take care
of yourself.
What the hell was
that all about, Sam?
I just made myself $300.
That's what that's about.
Oh, boy!
Ooh, boy!
Ooh!
[Telephone ringing]
It's ringing.
It's ringing.
[Beeping]
We're sorry.
You have reached a number
that has been disconnected
or is no longer in service.
Great night.
Great
fucking night.
I got to
get some gum.
Would you like
a piece of gum?
No. Thank you.
Are you sure?
No chiclets?
Maybe I don't have
the same cravings
as you, Eddie.
Ooh.
Ooh.
Look,
come here, you.
Oh.
Mmm...
Mommy...
Mommy...
We'll go home
soon, mommy.
We'll
go home soon.
What a guy.
Helps pass the time.
There's more to life
than just passing time,
isn't there, Diane?
Maybe we're both
just running around
in circles...
And just
happen to touch.
The sun and the moon
do that.
They call it
an eclipse.
Well, if you think
he's up to it...
I think
he's a little soft.
O.k.
O.k.
Well, we'll throw him
a knuckle ball. Why not?
All right.
Hello?
♪ They play their drums
and things ♪
♪ they know
you want to hear ♪
♪ and treat you like
their closest friend ♪
♪ they take
your hopes and dreams ♪
♪ with plans
that aren't too clear ♪
♪ so they can screw you
in the end ♪
♪ and when they're through
with you... ♪
Hey, Eddie.
Hey, darlin'.
How about a bottle
of suds for me
and my friend here?
Classy joint.
Yeah. Ha ha ha.
Valley of the vixens.
So what's the scoop?
Is the baby here tonight?
Baby's over
in the corner.
Looks rugged.
Hmm...
Looks rugged.
He is rugged.
The baby's about
three months behind
on his payments.
He owes Lou 1,500.
Is that right?
Yeah, that's right.
And you're going to
get it from him.
Excuse me?
Lou thinks
you might be hard.
Time to kiss
the baby, friend.
Waaaah.
♪ Suspicion rises
with the sun ♪
♪ those friends
of happiness ♪
♪ have turned
into illusion ♪
♪ but then again you start
to believe in someone ♪
♪ how many times before
you come to understand ♪
♪ you can't fool no one
♪ you better cover
your shoulder... ♪
You're
in my light, cuz.
You must be the baby.
Give me a lollipop,
baby.
Cherry?
You know me.
I hear you owe
Lou donan $1,500.
So?
So I'm here for it.
Who the hell are you?
Where's Joe?
He's mincemeat.
Baby's going
to put his head
on a platter.
What are you up to,
Eddie?
[Snorting]
I'm not getting off.
I'm not getting off.
Jesus Christ!
You know,
you're disgusting
with that shit.
I'm not getting off.
[Coughs]
Baby.
All right.
Yeah.
Where to now, Eddie?
Where's the money?
I think I'll give it
to Lou myself.
Good night, Joe.
Good night, Diane.
Eddie was kid stuff.
Lou was the real deal.
He was as clever as pop,
a true pro of the high con.
I saw that right away.
And he had something big
in the works
that was going down soon.
You pick up on these things
when you're in the game
long enough.
I had to find a clue
that would lead me
to the cake
or at least tell me
what the hell the cake was.
What's he up to?
I thought about
the two brothers
and what could have
driven them apart.
Then I found the picture
I saw in my father's bag.
This time it wasn't ripped.
There was my mother
standing between pop
and uncle Lou,
both holding her
like bookends.
I got to tell you,
it gave me a chill.
Get the cake.
My brother took
the cake.
Did my mother
have something to do
with all this?
Was that why
Lou was torn away
from my pop's photo?
I didn't know it then,
but that photo was the hook
that would send me deeper
into the shadows,
squinting for the truth.
Open your eyes, Joe.
You might find
what you've been
looking for.
Who says
I'm looking?
I do.
Unless
you've been out late
being a naughty boy.
Need a naughty girl
for that.
How about her?
That's different.
That's
an old girlfriend.
Oh.
Romantic...
Living in the past.
Not really.
Of course not.
Eyes on tomorrow.
Looking to score big.
Break
a young girl's heart.
You have a way
with words.
Are you going
to drink that,
or are you going
to let it evaporate?
You think
you know me, Diane?
I want to.
What about
your friend Eddie?
Make me forget him.
How long
until you forget me?
Treat me right,
maybe never.
Tempting words...
If I were a sucker.
I'm playing you
straight, Joe.
Drop it, Diane.
I know what you are.
The question is,
why are you here?
What do you want?
You're hurting me.
Well, the truth
can be painful.
I'm sorry.
It's just the way
I operate, you know?
Took a dozen Eddies.
You're different...
Stronger. You're...
I shouldn't have
played it that way.
It was a mistake.
Just don't tell Eddie
I was here, o.K.?
Diane...
You don't have to
hook people.
You don't know me.
I don't have anyone.
I don't have
any uncle Lou.
I don't have
any back home.
I got me alone,
and that's it.
I do what I got to do
to survive.
All right. Listen.
I'm sorry.
Maybe I made a mistake.
I know what it feels
like to be alone.
I don't sleep with Eddie.
That's nice to know.
What was she like,
the girl in the locket?
I barely remember her.
So why do you
carry it then?
It's just kind of
a reminder, I guess.
Of what?
Things we're still
looking for.
Like?
Like, um...
Like I lied to you.
It's not
an old girlfriend.
It's my mother.
She died
when I was a baby.
You...
You are so sweet.
I could get used to you.
I got to go.
Why?
Eddie would kill US
if he found out.
I'm not ready for that.
I'm not sure...
That I'm ready...
For you.
Sleep on it.
You'll get used to it.
The next day
was uncle Lou's birthday.
I took advantage of it
to get in closer.
I had a mission
to complete for pop.
You know,
I don't remember
ever having a better ham
than this one.
Really.
Now I really see
the family
resemblance.
He's just like
a donan--
so polite and
handsome, too.
I don't think
I can take it
with two donans
in one room.
I'm getting
all woozy.
Well, listen,
before you pass out, baby,
how about getting US
some fresh coffee?
Oh, o.K., Louie.
Ha ha ha ha ha!
She is something.
Yeah. She sure is.
I found her
slinging hash
at one of those
truck stops
out on
the interstate.
She really
filled that
little uniform out.
She was so fine.
Oh...
She poured me
a cup of coffee.
Best damn coffee
I've ever tasted.
She said
she made it herself.
That
was the clincher.
Been together
ever since.
♪ You get another candle
on your birthday cake ♪
Oh, blanche,
what is this?
♪ You're another
year older ♪
What are you doing?
You know how i--
what's all the fuss?
My god.
Make a wish.
Hey, come on.
You know i--
make a wish.
Listen, blanche,
I don't like--
this is terrible.
I mean--
just make a wish.
You know I hate this.
It's your
birthday, Lou.
Yeah. Well, o.K.
Now look--
if Joe helps me,
because it's Mike's
birthday, too. O.K.?
Sure. Love to.
Ahh...
Yay!
Beautiful.
Well, it's sure as hell
a pretty cake
you made there, blanche.
Thank you, Louie.
Oh, boy.
Your favorite.
Nice little horsies
on there, too, huh?
Of course I put
the horsies
on there.
I'm sorry about
your father, Joe.
Crazy broad.
But I love her.
I do love her.
Happy birthday,
uncle Lou.
What's this?
The baby
sends his regards.
Eddie's been trying
to get that money
from him
for months,
and--and you...
Eddie's not a donan.
You bet
he's not a donan.
[Heavy metal music plays]
Mommy. Mommy.
Where's the Sam
fucking peckinpah?
Mommy...
I'll be damned.
All fucking
summer long, sugar.
All summer long.
What's your
problem, boy?
I thought
we were settled.
We are with that,
baby.
There's nothing
to worry about.
What the hell you
bothering me for?
The baby's a little
cranky tonight, huh?
Yeah.
I don't dig looking
at your ugly face.
Now your partner,
he was a cool dude.
Cool enough
to get the baby
to burp up 1,500?
I didn't pay him
Jack shit.
What are you
talking about?
You cleared your debt.
He told me
all I had to do
was walk outside
and shake his hand,
and I was even.
Are you telling me that
was his fucking money?
Somebody's
after your job, boy.
I bet he even
stole your woman!
What the fuck
are you talking about?
Sit down.
Fuckers! Fuckers!
What the fuck
are you looking at?
Hey, man!
[Glass breaks]
Fuck!
Watch it, pal.
You want to fuck,
huh? Huh?
Fucker!
Hi-fucking-yaah!
Fuck!
Hey, Mr. Rock 'n' roll.
Let's wiggle and dance.
First you turn blue,
and then you shit
in your pants.
Aah!
Hey!
Let's fuck! Let's fuck, huh?
Nice and hard! Aah!
Get up, bitch!
Come on, bitch!
All right! All right!
O.k., baby girl,
who sent ya?
Who sent ya?
Sam...
Fucking peckinpah.
Aah!
Rrr-aah!
Someone tried
to kill me, man! Uhhn!
Who'd try
to kill you, Eddie?
The fucking hangers!
Let me get you a drink.
[Babbling]
I didn't know
you smoked cigars, babe,
particularly this brand.
Eddie, it's really
not what you think.
Shut up!
Shut the fuck
up, man!
[Sniffing]
[Sobbing]
Who you been
fucking now, man?
Aah! I'm here! I'm here!
Aah! Aah! Aah! Aah!
Yeah! Yeah! Yeah!
No! No! No!
Aah! Aah! Aah!
[Sobbing]
What am I, a fucking
retard, man?
Am I a
fucking retard, huh?
I know what this is!
Lou tried
to snuff me out
because of his
crazy little nephew
being around!
Well, vive la
fucking France, man!
I bet I was
the last person
you were planning
on seeing tonight. Aah!
Get out.
I'd really love
a reason to
blow you away,
so get out.
[Door closes]
6 of spades...
Ace of clubs...
Queen of diamonds...
Ace of hearts.
Shit!
[Knock on door]
Joe!
Diane?
What?
Joe,
we're in trouble.
Eddie thinks
I'm sleeping with Lou.
Why? What happened?
I don't know.
He tried to kill me,
and now he's gone
after your uncle.
Damn.
You wait here.
And lock the door.
It's a crazy fucking
world we live in,
captain Jack!
Eddie, what the hell
is this?
You filthy
double-crossing
little fucking filthy
double-crossing
filthy fucking goddamn
fucking filthy little prick!
What the hell has
gotten into you, man?
"What the hell's
gotten into you?"
Oh,
that's really good.
That's like
a poker face.
Pick a card!
Are you cracking up?
What is it?
What the hell?
Pick the fucking card!
Eddie, I don't know
what's gotten into you.
In a couple of days,
you and I are going
to make a bundle of money.
Eddie, come on.
Don't blow it now.
Put the gun down.
Show me the joker.
Come on.
Put the gun down.
Just show me
the fucking joker.
Well, Halle-
fucking-lujah, man!
The joker's wild!
You're trying
to trick me
out of the game
and squeeze in
your nephew!
Well, who's
sitting behind
your desk now?
I'm behind your
fucking desk! Me!
This is about Joe?
Oh...god, Eddie, af--
after all we've been
through together? Come on.
Bullshit. Bullshit.
Jesus god, you stupid
fucking hothead!
Come on. What is this?
What the hell
is this?
I'll show you
a fucking hothead, man!
I'll show you
a hothead!
Put the gun down,
Eddie.
[Babbling]
Asshole!
[Muffled]
You want to fuck?
You want to fuck?
Huh?
We fuck now!
We fuck now!
Motherfucker.
Hey.
Joe.
Joe.
Joe, come here.
God damn it,
get me out of here.
Jesus Christ.
Eddie was a key player
in a job I've been
planning for six months.
He was supposed
to bring in the Mark.
Dangerous con,
but a hell of a lot
of money involved.
Son of a bitch.
Here. We can
just leave him.
That son of a bitch.
We got to
get out of here.
Joe, god damn it.
Listen, you might
have to help me
on this one, kid.
Uh...
What do you need?
I need somebody to
bring in the Mark.
It's the classic
possum trap, man.
You'll
have to kill me--
well, fake my death.
You know the game.
But, uh...
What do you think?
I don't know, Lou.
I think you better find
one of your other guys.
They're in another
class altogether, man.
You can do it.
Hey, Joe...
You're all I got.
Why'd I leave it open?
Why didn't I say no
right there?
'Cause I remembered pop
setting up
the same damn con
and telling me my part.
He'd never let me say no.
O.k.
Take it easy.
Joe?
Diane?
What the hell is this?
You point a gun at me?
I thought Eddie
might come back.
Eddie's dead.
What?
Eddie's dead,
and Lou owns me.
What happened?
I don't know.
What do you mean,
you don't know?
I don't know!
Something's going down.
I can feel it.
It's too easy.
I just got
to figure out what.
Figure what?
Enough
with the questions!
We're in this
together!
In what together?
You know something
I don't know?
You're paranoid.
'Cause you pointed
a gun at me.
Don't push me, Joe.
Why did you
point a gun at me?
You're scaring me.
I'm sorry, Diane.
Lou's got a con
straight
out of my past.
I don't know whether
to face it or bolt.
Why not both?
What do you mean?
Take care of business
and then start over,
like me now
that Eddie's gone.
A new beginning.
Yeah.
A new beginning.
Leave the past
to the people
who are stuck there.
[Airplane propeller
starting]
[Footsteps]
[Woman]
Joey...
Ha ha ha ha!
Joey, where
are you going?
Ha ha ha!
Joey, I love you.
Joey...
I love you...
Joey...
Leave the past to people
who are stuck there.
When Lou filled me in
on the mystery
of the cake,
I couldn't find it
in my heart
to take it from him.
I had this made
for your mother.
I was
in love with her.
We were going
to be married.
But I never
gave it to her
because...
My brother...
Your father...
Well...well,
he was kind of stuck
between the two
of US, and...
And he stole her
away from me,
so, uh...
God,
I loved your mother.
More than anyone
I have ever known.
Certainly
more than my brother.
I guess we were kind of
like Cain and Abel.
Anyway, I, uh,
want you to have this.
It, uh...
Well, maybe you'll
find some girl
as pretty
as your mother was,
and you can
give it to her.
Huh?
I'll tell you what.
Why don't you
keep it for me?
Sure.
Anytime you want it.
You know...
If things had been different,
you could have been...
You could have
been my boy.
You know, when this
is all over...
Why don't you come
with blanche and me?
We're going
down to Tahiti.
We'll get
to know each other
a little better.
Sure. I'd like that.
Yeah.
I'd like that, too.
Sit down. Let's get
down to business.
Who's the Mark?
A man named Dr. Lyme.
He deals
in hot diamonds, solo.
He was hipped to me
by my old friend
Harry Shaw.
I've heard of Harry.
Yeah?
Harry
was in on the game,
except his old heart
gave out, and--
anyway...
Here's the bait.
Watch. Wear that.
Some bread.
Here's the kicker.
Wow. It's a beauty.
Now, that is real, man.
Boy, that is beautiful.
How's your pool game?
Not too good.
Aha. Perfect. Perfect.
On the way over,
I went through the reasons
for turning back,
and I almost did.
But the moment I heard
the crack of the cue balls,
I was committed.
The job was up to me,
just like the old days.
Like it or not,
I was home.
Billiards.
$1,000.
Is that per game
or per point?
Whatever.
Per point
would be fine.
25 to win?
Sure.
I prefer playing
on this table,
if that's
all right with you.
And, uh,
why is that?
A little more private,
it's the right temperature,
and...
It's a corsair.
Sausage,
set it up.
One of the rare occasions
in which 1...Plus 1...
Equals 1.
Shall we lag?
Sure.
I didn't catch
your name, Mr., uh...
Joe.
My pleasure,
Mr. Joe.
The name's
Morgan gripp.
But people
call me fats.
This was Sam's game.
Samuel langhorne clemens.
You know, Mark twain.
The genius
behind huck Finn,
Tom Sawyer,
a personal favorite
of mine--
a Connecticut yankee
in king Arthur's court.
He used to play whenever
he had writer's block.
Said it was
good for the brain.
I don't think
I've seen you
around here before.
No. I'm not
from around here.
That makes sense.
Welcome to paradise,
Mr. Joe.
It's all geometry,
really--
isosceles triangles,
Pentagons,
octagons,
et cetera,
et cetera.
But that,
that, my friend...
Is poetry.
Let's see.
That's...
24.
1 more would be 25.
Ah-choo!
Your turn now,
Mr. Joe.
Very nice.
Whoo.
Tough break.
Must have been
the pressure.
You bring a good man
to his knees, you know?
If there were
a fat lady in here,
I think she'd be
clearing her throat
right...
About...
Now.
Score that...
25 to 1.
Let's see.
At a thousand a point,
that would be, uh...
Oh, yes,
$24,000 you owe me,
Mr. Joe.
I, um...
I, uh, I don't have it.
Well, this
adds a new wrinkle
to our relationship.
Ahem.
I'm good for it.
A classic line.
However,
it just won't do.
Uh, listen, uh, here...
It's worth 25,000 easy.
I'm not a harlequin, Joe.
Look at it.
Those are
real diamonds.
Real diamonds.
Fortunately,
I have a way
to check this out.
If it isn't worth
what you claim,
then I'm afraid you're not
going to be worth much.
I think you should join
these two gentlemen now.
It was nice...
Playing with you.
[Chuckles]
Goddamn.
I'm good.
[Mechanical buzzing]
I see you're fond
of fine jewelry.
This is
an exquisite watch.
How did you happen
to acquire it?
Would you believe
I won that in
a card game?
Took it off a guy
named Harry Shaw.
My good friend Harry?
Yes, I just spoke
with him last week.
Really?
That's interesting.
He's been dead
for over a year.
Major faux pas indeed.
Would you like a drink,
Mr...
Thompson.
Joe Thompson.
Yeah. I think
I could use a drink.
Davida, a whiskey
for Mr. Thompson
and a small Espresso
for me, please.
Your man Mr. Gripp,
he's a hell of
a billiards player.
Yes, a true virtuoso
of the game.
I fear that
you didn't give him
quite a fair challenge.
Didn't I?
So,
what can I do for you,
Mr. Thompson?
Well, for starters...
Take a look at that.
Let me see that diamond.
"D"...
Flawless.
Yep.
5 carats.
In many lands
it is believed
that a spirit
lives inside the diamond.
That is why it has such...
Sparkle.
There are a lot
more spirits where
that one came from.
29 more, to be exact.
I'm listening,
Mr. Thompson.
After our card game,
Harry and I became
pretty good friends.
He said if I ever fell
into anything big,
you were the man to see.
A texan I'd done
some business with,
he's got some ice
just...Way too hot
for him.
A texan?
I think I can get
all 30 for 2.
$2 million is a tidy sum.
And what, pray tell,
will you gain from this,
Mr. Thompson?
Whatever you think
is fair.
Joie de vivre.
I haven't seen quality
like this for...Ages.
60 grand a carat.
That's
$9 million worth
for the price of 2.
You have seduced me.
You have a deal.
Shake.
[Buzz]
How did you know
I wasn't going to
snip off your fingers?
I didn't.
Never cross the line,
Joe.
Never cross the line.
What do you think?
It's inspiring.
Yeah?
Well, don't get
too used to it,
'cause the minute
we get up the coast,
it's coming off...
Fast.
Not fast enough.
First there's the job.
Second thoughts?
I was in this con
once before.
It backfired...
Bad.
But Lou's
counting on you.
Yeah, there's Lou,
there's a second chance
at the con,
there's a whole mess
of things you don't
know anything about
pushing me into this job.
Then there's you.
I'm falling in love
with you.
You better be careful
throwing around words
like that.
Why?
I might want you
to take me away
right now.
I will.
In the morning.
Let's go now.
Mmm.
You're tempting me.
Let's go.
In the morning.
I'm in too far now
to fold.
I love you, Joe.
I'll see you soon.
[Door closes]
Hello.
Hello.
What have you
been up to?
Not much.
Would you like some
coffee and doughnuts--
on the house?
Maybe
some other time.
O.k. Well,
stop by anytime.
Hey, patsy.
Hey, Joe.
How you doing?
I'm a little
nervous.
It's a big night
tonight.
Are you ready?
Yeah.
Of course I'm ready.
Good.
Let's go.
What is it with her
anyway?
Holly?
The doughnut girl?
Between you and me,
I think she's got
a crush on you.
So do me a favor.
Stay away from her,
o.K.?
I really like her.
I mean...
They don't come
any sweeter
than that.
Sure, patsy.
Thanks, Joe.
The hook was in.
Dr. Lyme was ripe
for the taking.
The biggest job of my life,
and all I could think about
was getting it over with
and then getting out.
O.k.
Joe, you pick 'em.
Ha ha ha ha!
First-rate, kid.
First-rate.
Now, these were a gift
from old Harry Shaw.
Now, I don't want
to let him down.
Why don't we sell them
and forget the whole thing?
Be quiet
and pay attention.
This is important.
You have to show money
to make money.
And tonight's haul,
gentlemen,
is $2 million.
Yeah. I like
the sound of that.
Me, too.
Joe hooked the claw.
Now we're going
to reel him in
and throw him in
the frying pan.
Everything o.K.
At your end, patsy?
I'm all set, Lou.
After the first shot,
you have to be
on the scene.
You'll cover our behinds.
Everybody takes
their cue from Joe.
Joe, as soon as you get
your hands on that cash,
you have to move fast.
If you don't kill me,
Dr. Lyme
sure as hell will.
Yeah.
O.k., kid?
Yeah.
O.k.
Let's drink.
My last con.
Couldn't believe
I was ready
to trade in the rackets
for a chance with Diane.
Somehow I felt I was
doing it for pop also,
making a break
from the lifestyle
that had chased US
all over the country
and sucked up
all our time together.
Wealth...
Power...
God.
They all have
a distinct...
[Sniff]
Aroma.
But none as sweet
as death.
I hope your cowboy
comes through for you,
Mr. Thompson.
I work for you.
If it works for him,
that's just icing
on the cake.
You humor me with your
ingratiating enthusiasm.
For the sake of argument,
if by chance
something did go wrong,
it would be...
Because I wanted it
that way.
Harry.
We want to
check them out.
Hell, yes, I'll show 'em
a couple.
You come and pick 'em.
Nice.
I want those stones back...
Pronto.
Beautiful.
Beautiful.
Beautiful.
And the others.
We want to see
the others.
Ho ho.
Come on. Let's just
make this simple,
shall we, now?
Show me the money.
I show you
the diamonds.
Easy, huh?
You'll see the money
when we check out
the rest of the diamonds.
Bull crap, man!
This game is off.
Give me my diamonds back.
Give me my goddamn diamonds
back, now!
Come on!
What the hell you doing?
Give them to me.
I know
what I'm doing.
You want these back, huh?
Damn right!
I think
I'll hold on to them
for all our trouble.
You son of a bitch!
What the hell you
trying to pull here?
I told you I'd deliver,
and I did--
Mr. Thompson.
Open it.
All right.
Here's the deal.
I hold the money
until my boss tells me
the goods are undamaged.
When he gives me the sign,
you get paid.
All right.
Come and get 'em.
Candy from a baby.
Anything goes wrong...
Kill them all.
He's wired!
It's a setup!
Do it. Do it.
Aah!
No!
Hold it! FBI!
Joe, go down!
Jesus!
Get my bloody money!
Aah!
[Motor whirs]
When things fall apart
is when people stagger
to whatever's familiar,
the same way a bull charges
at a red cape
after being stabbed
a dozen times or so.
Wait!
I'm sorry, Joe.
Diane!
Played him
like a pro, doll.
Shut up!
Long time no see,
Joe.
Glad you came.
Hello, Joe.
What do you know?
Pop?
Pete,
get the cake.
You did good,
Joe.
Aha!
Ah!
My god!
My, my, my.
Whoo!
Frank...
There's
your taste.
Good con.
See you on
the next trip.
Call me anytime.
Pete...
It's always
a pleasure
working with you.
The pleasure's
mine, Mikey.
Ha ha!
See you soon.
Real good, Joe.
And you, babe.
Here's your cut.
I don't want the money.
Strictly
business,
baby.
Take it...
And go.
The rest...
Is ours.
Your brother's dead.
Yeah?
Ha.
Well, well, well,
well, well.
Why?
Well, I'm sorry, Joe.
I couldn't fill you in.
You see,
this is the only way
it could work.
I did what I had to do.
It was just another Mark.
You pinpoint a Mark,
you take him
for everything he has...
Any way you can.
We just made
the biggest score
of our lives, kid.
$2 fucking million,
son.
Don't you ever
call me that.
Hey,
what the hell is that?
[Music plays]
Hey, now, don't point
that goddamn thing at me!
Joe, just stop.
Just stop and think
for a minute.
Isn't this
the best goddamn con
you've ever seen
in your life?
I mean,
with your own eyes?
It's up there, man!
It was something special.
We did it together,
kid.
We did it, man!
What'd you think
of Diane, huh?
Wasn't that a nice touch?
I mean,
she looked so much
like your mother...
Wow!
It all just fell into place
like magic.
There was
no turning around.
He deserved every
goddamn thing he got.
He took your mother
away from you, man!
Jesus!
She didn't die
when you were born.
He killed her!
He killed her with
one of his goddamn cons!
Damn near killed me,
too.
It's you and me now,
Joe.
Come on!
It's you and me.
US against them.
Put the goddamn gun down!
Put it down...
Please!
Are they blanks...
Or are they real?
Hell...
I love you, son.
Aah!
Goddamn!
Oh!
God...
Damn it!
Most people
never feel the strings
that gently tug them
day in and day out.
Mine had been jerked
every which way
before I cut 'em loose
and left a tangled mess
going around in circles
with my pop
and all that cash
I wanted no part of.
It was a colorful world
I was walking away from,
but nothing in it
was real--
not my pop,
not the bastards
who'd helped dupe me,
not Diane,
who almost broke my heart.
All I took from them
were memories--
images, really.
They're worth more than
any take from any con.
They keep me honest.