Luck (2011–2012): Season 1, Episode 5 - Ace Forces Escalante to Swap Jockeys - full transcript

LUCK
Episode 5

'Late.
This horse-retirement woman.

- Maybe caught in traffic?
- What's wrong with a heads-up?

She might not make calls
from behind the wheel.

What are you, her lawyer?

Here's another mystery. Our horse is
entered in the seventh race tomorrow.

No mention to you from Escalante?

Yesterday, all he says, "The horse
is well." Words to that effect.

- Mr. Escalante?
- Who's this?

Gus Demitriou.

Me and Mr. Bernstein just seen where
the horse is entered to run tomorrow



with that apprentice kid that we met
the other day named to ride.

The racing office need five horses
to make the race kosher,

'asking me could they use
your horse's name.

- So, the horse is not gonna run?
- Yeah, but well he don't gonna run.

Which I don't name him a top jock to ride
him, gonna get all upset when we scratch.

Whereas, when you scratch the apprentice
kid, he's not gonna make a big beef.

Get off.

If we probably scratching him, righty,
or Porky Pig that stutters, his agent.

Well, can I say for a fact
that the horse is not running?

It's a waste of fucking time.

- Ninety percent sure, absolutely.
- Ninety percent sure?

- Ninety percent, Senor.
- I gotta go.

Fuck him.

- Ninety percent unlikely to run.
- Some people lying is like breathing.



This point in your career,

a man like Escalante,
you don't question his intensions.

All's I'm excited about, Joey, if that
horse is gonna run, I wanna be on him.

We're realists. knowing that we're
on the outside looking in,

we calmly accept
our uncertain position.

We don't ask why did you put us on as
opposed to other well recognized jock.

We say, "This is great news, Mr.
Escalante. We're gonna do you proud."

The Goffs million that horse
won an Ireland, Joey.

Keep your head on straight.
You stick to your routine.

Which means you go
do your weight-loss running.

- "Les jeux son faits,", Joey.
- "Les bon temps roullez."

Kagle.

- Aw, don't fucking answer.
- Come on, Marcus.

- Where the hell's he been anyway?
- I don't know. We'll find out.

- Hey, Kagle, where you been?
- Fired.

I thought you might be applying
to that TV show,

Pig-Looking Fucks Lose Weight.

'Busy-body dropped a dime
on me to the race-track Bosses.

Got fired from a guard job for
loan-sharking? Where the hell is justice?

Which I wonder if
I'm in his present company?

Hey, I don't drop dimes to Bosses.
Not even on parasite humps.

- If the shoe don't fit don't wear it.
- I'm sorry you lost your gig, Kagle.

Can I talk to you a minute?

Yeah, maybe for more fun after,
maybe you go swim in a sewer.

Marcus wouldn't give you up, Kagle.

I've been halfway flipped-out
since it happened,

I wound up in Laughlin, Nevada.

- Jesus, oof.
- Fucking right, oof.

I've got a stomach bug from cathouse
coffee, I sold my car,

I got arrested for shitting
in the street. Jesus, Christ.

Anyways, onward and upward.

Look, I'm tapped, Jerry.

Loan me anything up to ten,
I'll pay you retail vig.

Here's a grand. No vig. Pay me
back when you're on your feet.

Absolutely.

I'm deeply grateful.
Deeply grateful.

How much did that conversation
cost you?

Walking-around money.

Which he'll use to plant
his fangs in peoples' necks.

Because usury can't be resumed
off walking-around money.

And just 'cause we close our eyes,

doesn't mean the Nazis aren't
out there murdering people.

- Do you know you're out of your mind?
- I'm out of my mind?

You, Gone-zo, flipped.

I'm being identified as gone-zo and flip
by a guy who keeps a diary like a kid.

"Ooh, I need mental help treatment
and so forth."

Don't be rummaging through
my private documents, Marcus.

Sure, why should I information gather
on an old acquaintance

who admits that he blew $286,000
to the Great Wink of China.

- Why did you let it get that far?
- How about one hand at a time.

- Where you going?
- You can fucking read about it later.

What to blow the rest of your bankroll?

Knock elsewhere's when you're through.
You can bite somebody who gives a damn!

Racing stable t-shirts are ready.
Just got the call.

Pain-in-the-balls Marcus needs
to go see the chest doctor.

- Is he getting dressed?
- No.

He don't know he's gotta go, but
I can't stand fucking talking to him.

- I'll go talk to Marcus.
- We'll get the t-shirts later, right?

- You have to go to the hospital.
- Why, who's sick?

No funny evasions. Jerry said you've
been experiencing your chest problems.

Yeah, no evasions.

- He's got so many opinions, where is?
- Never mind, Jerry.

Yeah, Jerry's where he always his,
urinating money at the poker parlor.

I got it. I got it.

How his legs feel to you?

And you asking me, that's when I know
you think a horse is doing great.

He wants to know if his neighbor next
door starts earning his keep tomorrow.

Tell him he find out a scratch time
like everyone else.

Thanks a lot, pal,

like I don't have problems enough
trying to keep on his right side.

- Okay, Junior, you can take him.
- Si, Doctor.

Hola, Senores.

I introduce you to Doctora Joanna.
'Been taking care of your horse.

- Mr. Demitriou and Bernstein.
- Gus, Doctor, how you do?

- How do you do?
- How do you do?

Please excuse me while
I just go finish my rounds.

Thanks for your work.

- You've got a beautiful horse.
- Oh, thank you very much.

- Nice surprise.
- Where are we with that race?

Like I'm telling Mr. Demitriou,
90 percent possible I scratch.

How about what the hell you
doing in there to begin with?

Like I telling Mr. Demitriou, which
he's supposed to own the horse...

the present time they never have
enough horses to run.

So, for a favor, to make the race go,
I letting him put your name in.

- With no intention to run?
- With 90 percent possible to scratch.

Which for everyone's happiness, maybe
you change your tone of voice?

Not because you're looking to win a bet

using this kid to people
to think it's a warm-up race?

No. Ninety percent possible I scratch.

Which leaves 10 percent he might run,
which we hear about that tomorrow.

- If we wake up tomorrow 100% great...
- That leaves you still with 10 %.

Riding an apprentice jock would double
the odds. In case someone wanted to bet.

Do you wanna bet? Is that what you try
to find if I run him, can you bet?

- No.
- Then why you break my balls?

To find out whether
you're a gambler or a trainer?

Who told you if you're one they throw
you out for being the other?

If that horse would run tomorrow,

I think Mr. Demitriou would like
the best jock riding him.

If that horse run tomorrow, you can put
a monkey on him and he'd win.

- I'm not interested in that.
- We'll be back in 20 minutes.

I want that kid traded for the best jock
that doesn't have a mount in that race.

- The kid I put on can ride good.
- Otherwise I take the horse away.

Don't be making threats to me. I tell
you, take that fucking horse right now.

Twenty minutes.

- Hey, don't be a jerk.
- Don't you give me orders either.

- Well, that went good.
- Good?

I got that half-a-crook trying to win
a bet, this twisted fuck Mike,

and that prison retirement woman who
won't show up so I give her a check.

Why don't you just hit me
in the head with a hammer?

I could just hope you don't take
that horse from Escalante.

Why, you don't know how to train?

- Don't lose this horse, Turo.
- Who are you, my spy?

The whole barn could hear you.

I don't like people telling me
how to run my business.

You don't like people catching you
with your pants down.

- I don't do that in front of nobody.
- Yeah, you don't need to tell me.

Be smart with me,
I throw you the fuck out, too.

- Lose your best horse, fire your vet.
- I get another best horse, and a vet.

What's your big finish,
set yourself on fire?

- Yeah, okay, Judge Judy.
- What does that have to do with it?

"See this, or that doctor."
"Here's how to solve your problems."

- That's not Judge Judy. It's Dr Phil.
- Then get out of here, anyway.

Fine, I have other cases to hear.

Mr. Bergman, how you feeling?

Hunky-dory.

You chest again,
having difficulty breathing?

Not really.

I'm sure you saw all the other beds
with patients waiting to be seen.

Absolutely, please go and see them.

Mr. Bergman, I'm trying to evaluate
what's going on with you.

I'd really like your help.

May I?

- A nice full breath, please.
- Not a problem.

Again?

Are you taking your medications,
your Prednisone, your Furosemide?

- You call me a frequent flyer, too?
- Who called you a frequent flyer?

I heard one of the nurses say
that about me outside.

I apologize for that.

I take my medications.

My problem isn't compliance.
My problem's I'm about to die.

- Is that what you believe?
- I don't know.

You have a cardio-myopathy,
a disease of the heart.

I know what it is.

And its symptoms are being aggravated
by stress.

Just now, stress rather than
your underlying condition

is the major factor in your symptoms.

As for your disease, I certainly
wouldn't call it end-stage.

In fact, if you're not with us five
years from now, I'll be surprised.

What about 15 years?

In 15 years, I supposed I'd be
surprised for the opposite reason.

I'm going to prescribe you some Valium,

which you can take next time
you feel an attack coming, huh?

- Thank you.
- You're welcome.

May I also point out that the gift shop
has many good books on meditation?

Don't be a wise guy.

Mr. Bergman, do you have
someone you can talk to?

- A horse.
- That's not bad.

Feel better, huh?

He's okay. He'll call me
if he needs to see me, okay?

Here's the five top jockeys.

Then here's the five top white jockeys.

I want the best jockey available,

and the kid you're taking off,
you give him $5,000.

Not from my piggy-bank.

- The best possible shot.
- Comprendo.

'Appreciate it.

- Don't need people know our business.
- I'm halfway afraid to ask.

Fucking Joe's new car pushes me
halfway through the window.

Tony, you mind altering your rounds,
maybe take it to the room upstairs.

You do your job, and I do mine.

- Here, split this with that bug.
- Ah, Turo.

And don't be Tony-ing people
you're lucky to get an Anthony out of.

That's five in there from the owner.
Split it up with your jock.

- Who you putting on?
- Ramirez.

- Selling pencils at the Hilton.
- Just shut the fuck up, please?

Goddamn it, Turo! My Bug rides
as good as Ramirez. If-if not better.

Your jock rides next week on that
cheap horse those maniacs bought back.

And what am I am supposed
to take your word for being worth?

Don't take it for being worth nothing.

Marcus?

How you feeling?

I took a Valium.
I feel like I'm drunk.

I think I'm queer for you.

That's so nuts because I was thinking
the same thing about you.

Well, that's very funny.

Well, why would you think
you're queer for me Marcus?

Because I worry about you all
the time. "Oh, Jerry this and that."

This and that?

If something's gonna happen to Jerry,
or so forth.

That three-year-old that ran so great
the other day, that Old Man's horse?

I'm so happy watching,
and then the next thought,

" I'm worried with Jerry. He's got
his neck under some wink's shoe."

Where's the boner come into the story?

Who else worries about another male
like that, except a fag?

Jesus Christ.
I'm humiliated just talking...

Marcus, a fag finds occasion for showing
up in a bathroom naked, or the like.

- Well, I'm a fucking wheelchair.
- There's fags in wheelchairs.

There's even a fag wheelchair Olympics.
But you have to do something to qualify.

Did you ever think falling
out of a tree when you were 11?

Oh, yeah, that turned me queer,
falling out of a tree.

You spent so much time learning how
to take care of yourself,

maybe you're just not familiar
with you just having a buddy?

Three friends I got
I can hardly stand most of the time.

When I booked before, I went to
fucking gamble at the fucking Hustler.

- Oh, stop the presses.
- Yeah, but I didn't.

I wanted to get back here
and see how you were doing.

Does that make me queer for you?

I've never gave a dirt shoot a second
look my whole life, yours especially.

That's 'cause I'm always seated.

Wanna grab Renzo and Lonnie,
and get some dinner?

- Food?
- Just watching TV.

- Yeah, hungry in here.
- All right.

- Hey, kid.
- Hey, Joey. Nineteen ounces I lost.

- Great, what you out for a second run.
- Huh? What's up?

I got something in my pocket for you.
Meet me at the Longshot, huh?

Sure, what's going on?

Sherlock Holmes, you come and meet me,
and you-you'll fucking find out.

Everything's okay though, right?

Depends on how you feel about
increasing your personal wealth.

- What you drinking at, Joey?
- That's your department, Ronnie.

I come to play eightball, I'm confusing
myself with meaning to drink?

I know you ain't confusing yourself
with getting in shape to ride again?

How does playing eightball disqualify me
from doing anything,

including getting in shape to ride?

- Hey, kid.
- Hey, Joey. Hey, Ronnie.

- Just racking them. Bug, you in?
- Sure, I'll shoot a rack with you.

The news I wanted to tell you

that horse we ride,
those Pick Six guys bought back?

What's going on?

We just guaranteed
the mount on him going forward.

That's awesome.

There's some other stuff
we got to discuss.

Matters for a race-riding jock.

That news ain't good news, or why
wouldn't he want to rub my nose in it?

Does that look like bad news?

That happens to be an ongoing
retainer involving that claiming horse.

I avoided brandishing in your face,
I didn't wanna hurt your feelings.

An "ongoing retainer on a claiming
horse," that makes tremendous sense.

My money, kid.
That's a kiss-off for getting bumped.

Yeah, mind your own business.

Are we off that Stakes horse
I'm supposed to ride tomorrow, Joey?

- Look, kid...
- Jesus, Joey, didn't go and bat for me?

It was the owner's call.

I will be goddamned if I can understand
why you gotta be so goddamn hateful.

And by the way, Joey, yesterday I gave
my book to my new agent, Palmieri.

There's a big deal. Big deal.

His book to Palmieri.
That's 25 percent of nothing.

- I can't believe I'm off that horse.
- It's a fucking goddamn game we're in.

Yeah, I don't wanna hear it, Joey.

- What a joke.
- What, Joey?

Nothing.
Just feeling sorry for myself.

Some people are so used to hearing "no,"
"yes" throws them for a loop.

This horse-retirement woman's no-show.

I could've gave her the check, maybe
asked her to the race tomorrow.

Disappointing.

If you can't advance the conversation,
you're not required to talk.

- Hundred percent truthful, Ace?
- Yeah.

I'm so distracted by this horse running
so imminent that I can barely think.

From you, back in the joint,
I got this horse picked out in Ireland.

This and that, and-and the such and
such, and the so forth, Millions Sale.

- The Goffs Million.
- The Millions Sale at Goffs...

- I got this horse picked out...
- The Goffs Million Sale!

I got the horse all picked up to buy.
That we reached this turn in the road.

Every step of the way,
my candid consistent reaction,

"What the fuck is this guy thinking?"

And lo and behold
we get through all of it,

the jackpot, the horse,
this head- case... Escalante.

And here's this horse ready to run.

And if she doesn't show,

shame on this prison broad for
missing herself out on a good time.

- Emotional problems, I attribute it.
- Or maybe she had a flat tire?

A flat tire don't keep you off a phone.

Maybe she got the flat tire from running
over her phone with a toothache

and a dentist anesthetic knocked
her out? How about that?

Tomorrow's gonna be a good day, Ace.
Big day.

We step to the plate with a shot.
You know who don't?

- Who?
- Babe Ruth.

The Babe don't step to the plate,
or George Patton, either.

Because they're both dead.

Tremendous ballplayer, tremendous
general, out of the picture completely.

Whereas, you and I, we get a good
night's sleep, and we step to the plate.

You make good points.
Let's go to sleep.

Walk him.

Bueno. Gracias.
Okay, Turo, good luck today.

- Ace.
- Yeah?

Claire LeChea is on her way up.

What do you think of that?

- Ms. LeChea.
- Good morning.

I apologize about yesterday.

You make things possible, and I've
been afraid for things to be possible.

Ms. LeChea, your check.

You look like someone
who can use a couple hours sleep.

Yes.

Maybe then after you get some rest,
you might want to go to the races?

We'll see.

Thank you.

- Tough break, Joey.
- I'll spin you for breakfast.

Sure, Georgie. Yeah.

No matter how much K-Y they use,
never any getting used to it.

Hey, it's Lynn, leave me a message.

Hey, honey, it's Joe.
I'm just checking in.

I guess you're already out and about.
And I hope you're having a good one.

I guess you're still getting my checks,

because I haven't heard your dulcet
tones screaming your ass off at me.

I've been missing you a lot lately.

And just giving you my love.
And my love to the squirt, okay?

I'll talk to you when I talk to you.
All right, bye, bye.

Ready?

Very good. Very good.

- Nice.
- Put it on.

I got you a large.

Good afternoon.
Senor Demitriou, Rico Ramirez.

- Nice to meet you.
- Good to meet you.

- Chester Bernstein. Claire LeChea.
- Nice to meet you.

- Turo Escalante.
- How do you do?

Here he comes.

Ready? Okay.

- Good to meet you.
- Good luck. Keep to your routine.

- Can we watch it?
- Sure, use my box.

- I'm asking you to watch it with us.
- Yeah, come on.

- That's for you.
- Thank you.

It's from all of us.

The extra money in your check,
beyond the budget,

there's just so many wonderful
things that it can be used for.

Good.

May I ask
why you made it $367,000?

Three-sixty-seven's my lucky number.

- Good luck, Mr. Bernstein.
- You could call me Ace. Or Chester.

- Good luck, Chester.
- Thank you.

Runners are now facing up
to the gate for today's seventh.

Lonesome Picker, and Watch House
will be the first two to come forward.

Pint of Plain, and Renegade Tune
standing back, waiting there to...

Renegade Tune facing up to the gate.

As Easy as Breakfast, Renegade Tune
hesitates, then goes in.

Renegade Tune's loaded.
Watch house is in.

Pint of Plain is in. Summer Child
is gonna be the last one.

Gate's closed. They're all set.

And away they go to a perfect start.
Watch House is away.

Doesn't seem to be all there.
And there's Pint of Play.

So, into the turn they go now.
It's Lonesome Picker...

Come on, what the fuck?

Pint of Plain just clipped heels,
nearly losing stride...

They turn for home, and it's still
Watch House the leader,

but now Pint of Plain is just ahead...

Look at his legs.
God, he's bleeding. Right hind.

- The jock should pull him up.
- Quiet.

Watch House gets... but hold on.
Pint of Play, he's moving up...

He is still running.

Come on!

- He's doing okay, Ace.
- Come on!

- Come on, big boy! Come on!
- Come on.

He's gonna do it. He's gonna do it.
Come on!

Yes.

That is some horse.
That is some wonderful horse.

- Congratulations.
- Now, pray he come out in one piece.

He didn't win like much, did he, Joey?

Why don't you take a long walk
off a short pier.

Because I'm always afraid
I might stumble.

You'd think
Escalante would've told us to bet.

I wouldn't make any long-range plans
counting on him to give us information.

You know, I think that horse's stall
is adjacent to our horse's stall.

Look now what you did to me
with this woman.

Hey, it's Lynn.
Uh, leave me a message.

Hey, honey. It's me, Joey.
Just checking in.

I had a great afternoon here. The Gods
of luck must be confusing me.

I made several hundred dollars,

that I thought that I would drop for you
and the squirt.

Because things are going well,
I thought of if you were of the mind,

maybe the Hamburger Hamlet wouldn't be
out of the question.

Or might be
in the drift of your thoughts.

I'll call you back.

I'm just gonna stop at payday advance,
I'm joking. I'm joking, honey.

I'm joking. I'll call you a little
later. Okay, bye-bye.

Buen trebajo.

Thank you.

I'm telling him get to the doc to meet
him in the piss barn, look at his hock.

What's his own impression
with the injury?

What's your personal impression?
Is he gonna be all right?

Oh, he cut it pretty bad.
You got to see what he hurt underneath.

- Underneath? Underneath what?
- His skin, like a bone, or a tendon.

The jock said he won
with a double handful.

- This horse is a running motherfucker.
- No shit.

He say he bring him a relative up
from Panama, keeping him company.

Okay, there you go. There you go.
Good job. Good job.

There you go.

Let's let him settle down.

We'll x-ray in an hour,
and do the ultrasound in the morning.

The difference between an x-ray
and ultrasound is...?

X-ray is for a fracture, sir. Ultrasound'll
show us some tissue damage.

We can do it when the swelling goes
down, which should be in 12 hours.

Thank you.

Go home.
Call, and I'll let you know.

I'd drop off Ms. LaChea, Mr. Bernstein,
and then maybe come back.

I just as assume you drop Ms.
LeChea and yourself off, and I'll...

- What? You're gonna stay here?
- I'm fine.

Whoever wants to stay, they're sitting
in a chair or sleeping on the floor.

- Gus can take you home if you'd like.
- Of course.

And...
I'm glad you came to the race.

- I am, too. We'll...
- Yes?

We'll talk soon.

How are we supposed to pretend anymore
it's not his horse?

He's standing quiet.

- The horse?
- The horse.

Yeah, good.

Hey, it's Lynn.
Uh, leave me a message.

Subtitles
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LUCK

End episode 5