Luck (2011–2012): Season 1, Episode 7 - Episode #1.7 - full transcript

While Ace tours a prison outreach horse retirement farm with Claire, Israel tries to convince Smythe that his boss is on the level. Jerry and his erstwhile card dealer, Naomi, try to win their way into a poker tournament. Lonnie decides to "go it alone" by putting in a claim for another horse, a filly named Niagara's Fall. Walter meets with Hartstone, a lawyer, to defend his ownership of Gettin'Up Morning, and has to make a decision about which jockey will ride him next. Rosie asks Joey to be her advocate; Ronnie attends AA in an attempt to get his life, and career, back on track.

LUCK

Not knowing where I stand with him
is driving me nuts.

You got the right to know
if you're riding that horse.

But callin' on the old man myself will
make it look like put up or shut up.

Could Joey maybe do me the turn?

Why not?

Not to piss you off
would be one reason.

You're asking Joey to put a question
for you, not to be your agent.

Or would that be next?

I'll show you what would be next.

It's gonna be a pleasure for us peeking
on that horse on that web cam thing.



-Any inconvenience, we apologize.
-You apologize.

-Escalante's aggravated?
-He'll live.

What the fuck is this?
I asked you to get me a windbreaker.

I saw this in the magazine. This
is what horse people wear on horses.

-They wear it as a prank.
-I should go with you.

You stay here, you confirm the meet
with the chief and you let me know.

It's for Israel to drop that on Mike
if it's set.

That kid is showing me something.

He's standing up alright.

-You're upsetting my whole barn.
-I'm being as quiet as I can.

-I hate to hear you being noisy.
-You didn't hire me.

You were hired by the limo driver,
which is the beard.

-What?
-What what?

-Turo, I need to talk to you.
-I'm coming back, you better be done.



-Yes, sir.
-Don't talk to me, finish your job.

-What you need to say?
-Walk with me and I'll tell you.

I'm getting a camera in my barn.
They think they can't trust me?

They want to see
how the horse is doing.

I tell him how the horse is doing.

Come on!

There's a bathroom
right around the corner.

Si, senora, I forgot we're in America.
Thank you for reminding me.

Watch your mouth! Take the kid
to the restroom next time.

-Gracias, patron.
-Did I tell you to watch your mouth?

Turo...

Are you the doctor
that gets to walk with the horses?

-Dr. Carter. What's your name?
-Eduardo.

Do they ever give you
their goggles?

The jockeys?

You want to talk him,

give me 10 bucks and you
can talk to him all you want.

How about both of you go,
or I'll kick your ass for free?

Look at what I'm looking at.

Bring him to the fountain at 3.
Don't be trouble!

Eduardo, you wanna come see
where I take care of the horses?

Maybe during the races
we'll get you some goggles.

You be a babysitter.

I'll watch my barn
get put on Facebook.

Getting back
to what the first speaker said,

let it begin with me.
I can learn to treat myself better.

-Thanks for letting me share.
-Thank you.

How long did you work
for the farm in Kentucky?

-Since I finished service in Korea.
-50 years?

No written employment agreement
with the Colonel?

It's not how it's done there. I do
have a written request for the mare.

It's the second piece of paper.

The Colonel said I can have her
if I want her.

Go ahead and breed her
with any of the farm stallions.

Which is what I did
and I get this colt

for my years with the farm.
You understand?

Yes, sir. Come on in.

-Din you get a bill from the Colonel?
-Never once. Now he's passed.

I assume you
have the proper foal certificate.

Yes, I do.

The other night, along comes this man,
a sloppy fellow named Bowman,

a banker for the Colonel's son-in-law.

-Says the colt is his.
-Don't worry about this.

The next contact from Bowman
you notify me

and we'll get to cases with him
on the matter real fast.

That takes a load of my mind.
I appreciate your advice.

-The question to the proper jockey...
-Excuse me?

Nothing, just another matter
to decide.

-Let's get to the end of it first.
-I've never been a freeloader.

You don't give that impression.

Keep that in a safe place.

Will you stop breathing on me
with your sausage breath?

Remind me what Jerry said
when we dragged him away

from that Chinaman's poker game.

-I think he just said thanks.
-For what, I'm now asking myself.

This isn't a cash game
like that one was.

Plus it isn't head to head. I'm gonna
win my ticket to the World Series.

Couldn't you just buy a ticket
for like ten grand?

-It wouldn't be the same.
-A man of principle.

You should come down
and root for me.

-I'll go.
-I have things to do...

Besides being part of a poker
cheering section.

Really?

Like speak to Mr. Escalante about a
horse I mean to claim in the 3rd race.

-Let go of me.
- Talk to us, Lon.

I'm entitled to a life
like everyone else,

instead of listening
to conversations I'm not part of.

Were you thinking of making it
a part of Four A Stables?

Possibly, but not necessarily.

Four A stands for Four Amigos,

not Three Amigos
and one "I'm entitled to a life".

My theory...
The trainer's misleading people

on the horse's
readiness and conditioning.

Running a good horse against
other horses that are bad,

in order to win.

That same thinking got us Mon Gateau.

Deja fuckin' vu !

Only it's impossible to catch
lightning in a bottle twice.

We'll see.

-Good luck, Lon!
-Thanks.

It's nice to see you learning
from your past mistakes.

I also liked her cause she was grey.

-Hey, kid.
-Mind if I join you, Joe?

Absolutely not. What's up?

Apart from my stick
getting tossed in the trash?

Inappropriate, the old man,
doing what he did.

-He had the right to be pissed.
-At the proper time and place.

Which a public venue isn't.

That's why I was looking
to talk to you, Joe.

The colt's no worse for wear.

I apologized
for not heeding instructions.

How did the old man received that?

Like...

"Alright, enough." But as for whether
I've still got the mount,

I couldn't tell you fuck all.

I don't envy you the uncertainty,
Rosie.

The last thing I want to do
is press him.

I'm sorry for lying to your face.

Do you want me to have a talk
to the old man?

-I'd like to know where I stand.
-How does that apply to me?

-If there is...
-Knowing where I stand...

I wonder would I be talking to you
as your agent.

I guess, I mean, sure.

That's only fair.

Alright.

-Hey, handsome!
-You playing?

They let dealers go broke off-hours.

My man Jerry trying to win
a tournament ticket to Vegas.

-Looking butt ugly, Leo.
-Good to see you too, Jerry.

Take your sits.
Five minutes, cards in the air.

What do you say
you and I chop for one and two?

Here we go.

The wires in this jack are worthless.
I have to run a new line.

Do you know where
the junction box is?

It's Lonnie McHinery,
part of the Four A stables.

I'd like a word.

-Your horse is doing good.
-This is an independent matter.

-Nice place for them to retire.
-They do look happy, don't they?

How old is this guy?

In human terms, around 70.

He won almost half a million
at the track.

We bought him at a live stock auction
on his way to slaughter for $186.

You caught yourself a break
at closing time.

T.C., re Sacramento.

T.C., for The Chief
of the Louisa Indian Band,

whose brother was in prison
with Mr. Bernstein.

They're meeting later today,
at the tribe's casino.

Re Sacramento
being the State's Legislature

approving
gaming for the race tracks.

That's my inference.

Done deal of sorts, I see.

Between Ace and the Indian
Gaming Lobby.

All very cogent and useful.
The map of Ireland on your mug

and a name hanging off you,
like Israel.

My mother's maiden name
was O'Hanlon.

One mystery put to rest.

-And another only deepens.
-What mystery deepens?

The strength of your grip
on the young Israel.

The depth of your composure, while
navigating these difficult waters.

I'm taking my Melatonin.

I think much more than you realize
Mr. Bernstein's purposes

coincide with yours.

Lowers the double agent stress.

I've known Chester Bernstein's son

before your bleeding journey
from your Irish mother's womb.

Without wishing to give offence,
you being privy to his intentions

is not a likely premise.

I think, sir,
with no disrespect intended,

you fail to appreciate
Mr. Burnstein's full sincerity.

Wouldn't much show to one's credit,
resisting an improved understanding?

You betting on my horse?

What do you care
if I bet on your horse?

-It's not yours yet, Lonnie.
-I know.

-What time is it?
-About 45 minutes to drop the claim.

Has to be in 15 minutes
before the race.

I'm aware of that.

Do you want me to go with you?

Make one mistake,
you spell the horse's name wrong,

even one letter,
is nulled and voided.

I got it.

Mr. Go-It-Alone wants to be
in partnership with himself.

Lon! Sales tax.
Don't forget it.

All in.

I fold.

I'm out.

Fold.

One in a row.

Check for the third.
Let's go!

Jesus, kid, you're pushing it.

Thanks, Joey.

The horses are now on the track
for the running of the third race.

Two to one she is.

Meaning someone else
must like her, besides me.

I can't help but noticing
the great Escalante

amongst us, common folk.

-Do you want me to go somewhere else?
-No, we're honored.

They're getting close.

She's a beauty, Lon.
I hope you get her.

Jesus, she's like a rocket ship.
Come on, Niagara's Fall!

Would you look at this bitch run!

That's it, come on!

All the way home!

-Keep it up!
-She's fast, Lon!

Jesus...

No!

Something's amiss with Niagara's Fall.

The rider has pulled her
out of the race.

What happened?

-She break down.
-Like a rocket ship.

-What happened to that horse?
-Wait here for me.

It's okay,
I know how to get back.

I will come back for you, I promise.

That's right.

The guy shows a little ass
and, bam,

if you don't jam your nightstick
up there and give it a twist.

Sorry, Turo.

-Put that thing away. Manuel!
-Here I am.

Can't remember the last time
this happened to you, Turo.

Hitting sound, Doc.
Till she took that bad step.

She owes you one,
getting pulled up so quick.

Do you see that kid?
Would you give him your goggles?

No problem.

You gonna ride with this filly,
Dr. Carter?

Could you drop off Eduardo?

Jesus Christ!

Look around, kid!

Looks like she can load.

Should I go in the van
or walk with you?

They won't let you in the van.

What's wrong with this guy?

Our first job is to figure out
what's wrong with them.

The inmates will work
on getting them healthy,

learning the job skills,
patience, responsibility.

I hate to ask, but any of the inmates
tried to ride of into the sunset?

I won't say it hasn't happened,
but what I have seen,

especially
with sick or injured horses,

is inmates become
less institutionalized.

Better able to get along with
people when they're back in prison.

-Come on!
-Still in custody.

2,400.

Call.

5,000.

Make it 20.

All in.

All out.

Three fours.

A pair of kings.
Three of a kind wins.

-Here's a sight.
-I could say the same.

-How's the shoulder?
-Never better.

I'm ready to dive in again.

How's the big horse?

He's right enough
to make an old man feel young.

Knock wood.

Came out of his last race
looking for more.

Seems the kind. All's you need
to do is to stay out of his way.

Yeah, seems like.

Tough for a young jock to learn.

Who told you about me
tossing around Rosie's stick?

I started back
with the AA meetings.

That so? Good for you.

They talk about honesty,
being straight forward.

This is me hoping to be considered,

getting the mount back
I lost getting heard.

As far as that, there's a whole
damn of other complications.

But I'm thinking on
who's gonna ride.

Whatever you decide,
I know you'll do right by the horse.

Good to see you.

Who are we looking for?

Where's your uncle?
I'm not going to hit you.

Come with me.

Trouble you, Mr. Smith?

I guess so.

How's the big horse doing?

-Rosie's asked me to take her book.
-Is that a fact?

We both know, instead of riding
in San Francisco or further North,

Rosie's only reason for staying down
here is ten steps up on your left.

I don't disagree.

As far as being her agent,

if it don't seem likely
that she's gonna be keeping the mount,

I'd not be doing her a favor
saying yes.

Is there any particular goddamn time
you need me to decide?

Absolutely not.

I didn't mean for it
to be took that way.

I'll let her know tonight.

Thank you.

Ruptured her flexor tendon.

That means how long
'til she can run again?

No more races, she's finished.

Oh my God.
I don't want her to suffer.

She's finished racing,
not dying.

You got yourself a brood mare.

It means you send her
to go make babies.

-That what that means?
-See what I have to listen to?

Your filly's gonna be fine.

-You're all set.
-About time.

-I thought you're taking him back.
-His uncle didn't show up.

I'll take him home.

Hi! You wanna hang out?

I was gonna go to my car,
take a nap.

Would you like some company?
I can tell you some bad beat stories.

I bet you can.

I will say, Naomi,

thinking of a particular hand,
a person I like a lot,

she pairs kings on the flop,
she scares the table away.

I remember this girl.
Pushes all in and everyone folds.

If you're gambling, you got the edge,
don't you wanna keep the gamble going?

Maybe you don't like gambling, raising
the question why you're at the table.

As I sometimes ask myself.

-And answering yourself what?
-"Shut the fuck up and deal."

It's a great way
to lose a lot of money.

Having learned so little, I can offer
to teach you everything I know.

For what in return?

Sticking with a fellow
that's feeling lucky.

Maybe sometime later in the evening
you let him take you out for a soda.

A soda?

That's what we call it
where I'm from.

Alright.

If only he'd knock the horse's
soundness, Escalante...

You gave no time to ascertain.

"A welcoming sunrise greets
retired stallions and brood mares,"

"giving this noble runners a gate
to the next stage of their lives."

If it's him who recommends the claim,

the trainer's watching
for a horse to be entered.

Been ascertaining already.

He's seen the horse entered, he
commences with his further leg-work.

Which I gave him no opportunity.

"A young mare and her foal
are seen romping"

"in one of our beautiful pastures."

You could be making this possible.

So he asks his grooms,
the trainer,

do they know grooms in the stable
of the horse of interest.

He also asks around
to other points of information.

I'm not passing judgement.

But you not giving Escalante
a chance to do those things

makes you the story's asshole.

I acted impetuously, I see that now.

And you wanting to complain
at Escalante

puts the icing
on the asshole cake.

Plus, if I had my wits
or brains about me,

the warning signal
was Niagara's Fall.

What's Niagara's Fall
got to do with it?

The horse's name itself.
"Niagara's Fall, slowly I turn."

If you're referring
to the three Stooges,

it's "Niagara Falls,
slowly I turned."

-And secondly, so what?
-It's fuckups.

It's fuckups what?

To not buy a horse
connected with them.

The horse you claimed has nothing
to do with the three Stooges.

Your horse was Niagara's Fall.
Their story is "Niagara Falls".

"And so they turn...", and so forth.
They're not related, let's drop it.

Look at that beautiful meadow.

Look at that!

Cal's a volunteer trainer.

She's building a relationship with the
horse based on trust and respect.

Which is what the inmates
would also learn,

breaking down dysfunctional
differences.

The human bonds with the horse,
making a herd of two.

You want to give it a try?

Yeah.

Start off slowly, like I showed you.

Like this?

Now stop.

Now jog.

You could go faster.

Here, in America,
this is called by poker players

driving signal.

Driving signal.

Driving or turning signal.

Use it to signal,
or turning or driving.

It seems to be signaling

that something
important is about to happen.

Driving and turning signal
can have multiple functions.

Which this is having exactly now.

Jackpot, Jerry!

Right back at you, Naomi.

We call that split pot.

Come on in, share a soda.

You can drop me off here.

No, you're telling me where to go.

She'll kill me if I leave you
in the middle of nowhere.

Which one of this palaces
is yours?

Here.

Some people are very good at lying.

Hard to believe. You think back
to the lying you've done yourself.

Wait a minute!

You need something,
you want to come see me,

just go to gate 7,
they call me and I come get you.

Okay.

You want a cold one
for yourself?

It ain't gonna bother me.

If I wanted one,
I'd have had one.

And I don't mean to scratch the other
goddamn scab off first.

Or talk about the colt's father.

Or go on about that night.
Was or wasn't I dreaming?

And did they do what the hell
I thought they did?

Murder the horse.
The colt's father.

None of that does justice
to this colt.

Or who the hell
is to get on him.

I'm fit now.

I'll be 3 pounds lighter
come the race.

-You don't know if that's the truth.
-Maybe not as a mortal truth.

But I can tell you I want it.

That's more than I can say
most days I wake up.

Today is all the day we got.

And now I'm gonna
make up my mind.

I got to take Rosie off.

And hanging fire to say so
it ain't right.

Get yourself fit,
stay sober and climb up the mount.

Yes, sir.

Except for the beer,
I'll do likewise.

We got ourselves a goddamn deal.

I wanna see you on the horses
tomorrow morning.

-Get out of here.
-Thank you.

-Great to see you.
-Congratulations on going forward.

We're excited,
you treat our interest like your own.

Hope you understand
I don't come in.

Absolutely.

Gus said you had a long day.

Inmate program at a horse farm.
Good operation!

Gus said you were out on your feet.

-Gonna be good for everybody.
-Let's get this show on the road.

Get our friend a bed.

You did everything for him,
except take the picture.

I think Mr. Bernstein knew

getting out of prison you'd believe
that he'd feel betrayed.

Inviting you to be his partners
he knew you might think was a setup.

He hired me to be a go between
knowing you'd approach me.

What happened before jail,

what he thought you
could've done for him and didn't...

To show you he's past it,
he was willing to let it go.

He gave us roles, Ace...
His private forgiveness pageant.

He wants to start a new life,
to follow what happens with that horse.

-His gift there to Gus Demitriou.
-The work we did to bring that off.

I think he may have found
himself a woman friend.

Very fulfilling for Ace.
On your part, a moving candor.

He never told me to deceive you.

He always told me to give you
accurate information.

Haven't you found out to be so?

You think I'm so simple as
to be deceived by Ace Bernstein?

-And you in the first place?
-Answers a question with a question.

You see how to be played
for a cunt?

-What are you doing?
-100 percent solidarity with Ace.

Syntex is how I know.

Jesus Christ, Mike!
How about time and place?

This is business.

It's nice of Joey
being the go between.

When we shook hands,
Joey and me,

I'm not sure we mightn't have agreed
to him being more than a go between.

I bet Joey Rathburn is exactly sure.

-Beer.
-Sure thing.

-Give us a minute, son.
-Sure, Mr. Smith.

-She's a riding hussy.
-That she is.

-You took her book.
-Yes, I did.

I'm gonna give the ride to Jenkins.

I gave him the mount
before he got hurt.

And as far as me
making bold with my stick...

No need going back into that,
you learned that.

I'm very grateful.

You gave me the chance.

A very good life to you, Rosie.

He's giving Jenkins the ride.

Then we'll have to see
if she stays in town.

Okay...

What is it I'm supposed
to be guessing?

Nothing.

-Everything.
-That is some answer.

Here's a better one.

I'm pregnant.

Is that so?

Wait a minute!

Come over here.

Who's the papa?

Asshole!

You know what it is?

It's too soon.
Does it matter?

Maybe a boy would be okay.

I'm pretty tired right now.

Sure, go to bed.

-Everybody decent?
-Here's our prodigal son.

-Hello!
-Hi!

This is Naomi.
Marcus, Lonnie, Renzo.

Great, Jerry!

-What you say your name was?
-Naomi.

I got your text, Lon.
Sorry to hear about your filly.

Thanks.

How about that bite?

-We got plenty.
-That's alright, thanks.

Nice meeting you all.

-Catch you later.
-You don't think they were gonna eat.

-Didn't say where she was from.
-She seemed nice.

Wore quite a bit of makeup.

Still no word from that kid.

It's supposed to be these things
don't lose messages.

I can conceive that sometimes
Mike has broads on that boat.

Probably right,
the kid's getting laid.