Maverick (1957–1962): Season 1, Episode 3 - According to Hoyle - full transcript

- You and me gotta have a little talk.
- Trouble?

Aye, coming from that direction.

Riggs has got this town
sorted like a mattress.

I didn't think we'd meet
again so soon, Maverick.

I did, Mr. Riggs.

Boys tell me a lot of gaming
equipment came in this morning.

- Yours?
- Didn't your boys tell you that?

They didn't have to.

Now that I see you, I can
add two and two together.

It will never come out
four. Not the way you deal.

I'll take two, please.



I'll try one.

Three, please.

Opener bet's 200.

I'm out.

I think there's an
expression in poker.

I'll tap you, Mr. Maverick.

There is 3500...

and since you're tapping
me, I believe I'd better add this.

Well, $1000.

I've never seen one before.

That's your pot, Miss Crawford.

Thank you.

I, uh, think it's about
time for me to quit.

You cash me in, please.



Thank you. Good night.

I've had enough
excitement for one night.

You want me to cash
you in, Miss Crawford.

Mr. Maverick?

Good night.

Please.

Mr. Maverick.

You had quite a run of bad luck.

Maybe I played badly.

Well, that isn't saying
much for my ability.

You're a bad poker
player, Miss Crawford.

I expected you
to be a good loser.

Is anyone? No one likes to lose.

Especially to a woman, huh?

Your sex has nothing
to do with your poker.

Two times you bet into my
possible straight and raised me.

Perhaps I guessed
you were bluffing.

And you were.

Here you are, Miss
Crawford, $11,200.

- Well, thank you.
- Good night.

Goodnight, Mr. Maverick.

New Orleans a real
fine place to be...

when you've got some
money in your pocket. I hadn't.

Good morning,
sir. May I help you?

It might be the
other way around.

I understand you gentlemen
own the Stonewall Jackson.

We do.

Business seems a little slow. I
thought the Stonewall Jackson...

was scheduled to leave for
St. Louis tomorrow morning.

Your information
is correct, sir.

- Would you like to book passage?
- I would.

Providing I get $5000
from you gentlemen.

You have a strange
sense of humor, sir.

Maybe I better introduce myself.

My name is Bret Maverick.

- Maverick, well, you're the one who...
- Who lost $12,000...

to a lovely and charming lady
named Samantha Crawford.

Miss Crawford is booking passage
back to St. Louis on the Delta Star.

Now, the Delta Star is
not one of your packets.

And it looks like you haven't sold too
many tickets on the Stonewall Jackson.

But Delta Star is
almost sold out.

You're not telling us
anything we don't know.

- Now, you listen to me...
- What is your point, Mr. Maverick?

To return to St. Louis
on the Stonewall Jackson.

Everybody expects me to take the Delta
Star because Miss Crawford will be on it.

A lot of people would like to find
out if Miss Crawford was just lucky...

or a better poker
player than I am.

Is she?

- She's one of the worst I've ever seen.
- She took you for 12,000.

So she did and
curiosity being what it is...

you can jam the
Stonewall Jackson...

from stem to stern with people
wondering if she can do it again.

- And the 5000 you mention?
- A stake.

If I win, you'll get
your money back.

Miss Crawford cleaned me.

That being the case...

how do you know she will switch
to the Jackson or even play again.

Maybe the lady doesn't
want to push her luck.

Miss Crawford was particularly
anxious to take my money.

She stayed in the pots when I
did and she dropped when I did.

She will play again.

Why was she out to get you?

Well, that's something
I hope to find out.

I've never seen
her before in my life.

This whole thing sounds
like a flim-flam to me.

What's to prevent you from
losing to her again on purpose?

- What about you?
- The same thought occurred to me.

I'll find a stake and book
passage on the Delta Star.

- Hi, gentlemen.
- Come on in.

Hey, we wanna talk to you.

The Stonewall Jackson
sailed the next evening...

with a full passenger list,
including Miss Samantha Crawford.

Good evening, Mr. Maverick.
Gentlemen, may I?

- It's an honor, Mr. Kittredge.
- Thank you.

- Good evening, gentlemen.
- That chair is taken.

- It appears empty to me.
- We're waiting for someone.

All right, we'll pull
up another one later.

We don't want you in
the game, Mr. Riggs.

- You and me meet before?
- Indirectly.

You're Joe Riggs. I watched you in
a game in Wagon Wheel, Wyoming.

So?

It was in your place,
The Golden Bucket.

It was a crooked game.

You're not a
very careful talker.

But careful who sits
the game with me.

But I'll leave it up to
the other gentlemen at

the table if they want
you in, I'll bow out.

Mr. Maverick's word is good
enough for me, gentlemen.

As far as I'm
concerned, we're filled.

Looks like we're filled.

- We'll see each other again.
- That's likely, Mr. Riggs.

- Miss Crawford.
- Good evening.

Mr. Maverick, gentlemen.

Good evening, Miss Crawford.

Mr. Kittredge would you do us
the honor of banking the game?

I'd be happy to, Mr. Maverick.
Agreed Miss Crawford? Gentlemen?

Uh, these stacks will be
$5000. Will you help yourselves?

Thank you.

High card deals, dealer
calls the game, satisfactory?

Certainly.

Your luck still
holds, Miss Crawford.

I defer to the ace, gentlemen.

Your deal, Miss Crawford.

Uh, gentlemen, before we begin,
I'd like one thing clearly understood.

Now, as we did before,
we play according to Hoyle?

You make quite
a point out of it.

Well, it's a man's world,
men make the rules.

I haven't any objection to that as
long as they all abide by them equally.

- According to Hoyle, Miss Crawford.
- Thank you, Mr. Kittredge.

Well, since I have
choice of the game...

how would like to
play five cards stud?

Well, now, that's a man's game.

Ready, deuce...

seven, six...

four and another deuce.

Your pair of nines are
high, Miss Crawford.

Five hundred.

I'll call and raise 500.

Fold.

I'll call.

Well, I'll see your raise
and raise another thousand.

You have a lot of faith in a
pair of nines, Miss Crawford.

Sure have.

Call.

Uh, the way my
luck's been running...

I can't buck a possible
straight or even a pair of nines.

I'm over.

Last card.

Queen to Miss Crawford.

Ten to Mr. Maverick,
possible straight.

Your pair of nines are still high on
the board, Miss Crawford. Your bet.

A thousand dollars.

I'll call and raise 2000.

As I recall Mr. Maverick,
you sometimes bluff.

You need a nine.

I have two showing,
one was turned down.

I don't know the exact odds
you have on that fourth nine...

but, um, well, how
much do you have there?

Sixteen thousand.

Well, in that case,
if you don't mind...

I'll just raise you 16,000.

I'll call, 16,000.

You're looking at my hand,
Mr. Maverick, a pair of nines.

I wasn't bluffing,
Miss Crawford.

Sorry, I do have the nine.

I didn't think you
were, Mr. Maverick.

And you raised in to me?

According to Hoyle, remember.

"In five card stud poker,
straights are not played...

unless determined at the
commencement of the game...

that they be admitted."

See for yourself, Mr. Maverick.

Miss Crawford, I've been
playing poker a long time...

- straights have always been...
- Well, not in stud poker...

according to Hoyle, that is.

Stewart, would you bring the
copy of Hoyle from the bar, please?

You see, straights
are played only when...

table rules allow them
and we made no table rules.

- Do you mind if I check the boat's copy?
- Oh, certainly not.

Your pot, Miss Crawford.

Congratulations and good night.

- May I have my money, Mr. Kittredge?
- Yes, ma'am.

I imagine you have your
suspicions, gentlemen.

Well, not at all. Both Mr. Hayes
and I checked carefully.

You have an impeccable
reputation for honesty.

I'm afraid that's
all I have left.

Now, Mr. Maverick, what now?

I owe you...

$5000.

No, sir.

You drew more fares than that.
We took our chances with you.

It was a stake not a loan.

I owe you $5000 and
I intend to repay it.

Good night
Mr. Bledsoe, Mr. Hayes.

Good night.

Straight bourbon.

You know something?

I think we're gonna
get our money back.

May I ask a question,
Miss Crawford?

Why me, Miss Crawford?

Why were you out to get me?

- Was I?
- Ha, ha. Oh, yes.

Coming down the river, you played
every pot I did and you dropped when I did.

Threw me off my game.
First time it's ever been done.

Well, I sure hope it'll
be the last, Mr. Maverick.

Well, like I said before, you're a
bad poker player, Miss Crawford.

But you had that one trick.

And you were waiting
to nail me with it.

Why not Kittredge
or one of the others?

All right, I'll tell you.

You once won $50,000 from
a man name George Cross.

That was all the money
he had in the world.

Later, to make good his loss, he
embezzled money from his bank.

Today he's in the
Kansas State Penitentiary.

Because you
cheated him at poker.

- Is that what he said?
- Yes.

Then he's a liar.

He's my father.

I'm sorry.

But you played poker with
me. Do you think I cheat?

No.

I remember George Cross who played
good cards badly and bad cards worse.

Well, you took his money.

Yes, but believe me, I
never played in a game...

with anyone I didn't
think could afford to lose.

Well, that doesn't help him now.

I suppose not.

I'd like to help
you, Miss Crawford.

What can I do?

Well, I need another $25,000
to make good what he took.

- And if you get it?
- They'll release him.

Looks like we both need money.

I need 5000 to repay a debt.

And you need 25.

Any idea how you'll get yours?

It's a cinch that Hoyle
trick won't work again.

By the time we dock in St. Louis,
the story will be all over the river.

In a week, everybody in
the territory will know it.

But maybe there's another way.

What do you mean?

There is a man on the boat
named Joe Riggs, you know him?

- No.
- Owns a joint in Wagon Wheel, Wyoming.

Never played a
street deck in his life.

So?

A man like that doesn't deserve
to live as well as he does.

You don't like him, is that it?

I believe I would
have put it stronger.

I was once tempted to give the people
in Wagon Wheel an honest game...

but it meant staying too long
in one place so I moved on.

I propose a partnership,
Miss Crawford, you and I.

Only I haven't got a nickel.

Oh, well...

- uh, that makes it a little one-sided.
- Maybe.

But how else will
you get your 25,000?

You need me and I need you.

Well, how much would it take?

10,000 would set us up with
the newest and best equipment.

The split?

Everything above the 5000
and what I lost before is yours.

I wouldn't want to stay
with it any longer than that.

All right, Mr. Maverick,
when do you need the money?

As soon as we dock.

Well, this is to be a
first name partnership.

- Mine's Samantha.
- Mine's Bret.

And goodnight, Bret.

The Stonewall Jackson paddled
into St. Louis, right on schedule.

And I went hunting
for equipment.

- Who is it? BRET:
It's Bret, you all.

Well, I've arranged to buy
all the equipment we need.

Goes out by freight
this afternoon.

And I got it for a thousand
dollars less than I figured.

Well, isn't that nice?

Then you need $9000.

Here, you can
count it if you like.

Samantha, you know I trust you.

We can take tomorrow morning's train
for Kansas city, change there for Cheyenne.

Take a stage on from
there to Wagon Wheel.

I telegraphed a friend of mine, he'll
be there to take care of the equipment.

Is anything wrong, Bret?

Well, I was just wondering
if your father would approve?

Oh.

- I will take care of that.
- You know, it's rough where we're going.

Might be better if you just
stay right here in St. Louis.

Bret, that's so
thoughtful of you...

but, well, I just kind of prefer to keep
an eye on my investment, you know?

Yeah, well, I'll get
the tickets, partner.

- Yes. MAN: Telegram
for Samantha Crawford.

- What do you want?
- Please, Miss Crawford, may I?

- Who are you?
- My name is Henry Tree.

Mr. Cross sent me.

Please forgive the
telegram subterfuge.

- And you have been watching me?
- Yes, well, I am paid to do so.

A detective?

Yes, and one of the
best, if I may say so.

Miss Crawford, I am afraid that
Mr. Cross is not going to understand...

the deal you made
with Mr. Maverick.

Heh, what deal?

Well, I overheard you
on the Stonewall Jackson.

And Mr. Maverick left here
only just a moment ago.

And I followed him this morning.

He was quite busy visiting establishments
that sell gambling equipment.

Well, does Mr. Cross
have to know?

Oh, my dear, yes. You see, I have
a certain loyalty towards my clients.

- Here is, um, $5000.
- Mm.

- A lot of money.
- Does Mr. Cross still have to know?

Oh, I am afraid
he already knows.

You see, I made a full report
and he should be here in...

Hello, Samantha.

Mr. Tree tells me you
have been a very busy girl.

Tree also tells me
you won 25,000 dollars.

Ten percent of that is 2500.

Your share.

Uh, Mr. Cross, I believe, you'll
find quite a bit of that money missing.

You gave it to Maverick.

You are gonna get it back.

May I say something?

Please do, Mr. Tree.

Mr. Maverick probably
no longer has the money.

You see, he is on his way right now
to pay for the gambling equipment.

That's Miss Crawford's problem.

- She is gonna get it back.
- But why should she?

She double crossed
you, or at least she tried.

And inadvertently, she made it possible
for you to realize a much better profit...

than you expected.

- We let her go right ahead.
- Exactly.

And you will reap the benefit
of her keen imagination.

No, you don't. I made that deal
with Maverick, it was my idea.

- So it was.
- What are you doing?

- Taking my money, Samantha.
- Your money?

Only a women could have pulled
that Hoyle trick and gotten away with it.

A lady with my southern
charm. I want my share.

You got it. You gave it
and more to Maverick.

I'll go to Maverick, tell
him the whole thing...

That it was a scheme to
make a sucker out of him.

Oh, he'll love you
for that, Samantha.

He'll tie that money in a red
ribbon, put it right in your hands.

And then thank you for making
him look like an idiot, ha, ha.

Oh, you aced yourself
right down the river, honey.

I want my share or I'll...

May I suggest that you need each other?
If Miss Crawford goes to Mr. Maverick...

tells him the story, she'll
end up without a nickel.

Yet you Mr. Cross, you need her.

For she is your only
link with a man...

who can set you up in a
very profitable business.

So I suggest that you come
to some sort of an agreement.

- Ten percent.
- Fifty.

- Twenty-five percent.
- I said 50.

You better take 25 percent while I
am still in a mood to be generous.

Uh, he is being very
reasonable, Miss Crawford.

Twenty-five for you, 50
for Mr. Cross and 25 for me.

Well, after all, we three
share a very interesting secret.

The journey from St.
Louis to Wyoming...

is long and rough,
but mostly just long.

And I was a little worried about Samantha,
but she made the trip almost a pleasure.

She took it all in with wide
eyes and a wider smile.

And had me looking at places I
have never really noticed before.

This, uh, isn't exactly
New Orleans, Samantha.

Oh, I didn't expect
it to be, Bret.

- Maverick, it's good to see you lad.
- Mike, how are you?

Samantha, this is
Big Mike McComb.

Mike, I wrote you
about Miss Crawford.

That you did, but you
didn't write half enough.

- Well, I hope we'll be friends, Mike.
- There is nothing stopping it, ma'am.

- Well, excuse me.
- See you later.

She's got to be Irish with a face like
that. She is an angel, but an angel.

Play poker with her sometime.

- You and me got to have a little talk.
- Trouble?

Aye, coming from that direction.

Riggs has got this town
sorted like a mattress.

Our equipment?

Wagon this morning. But
you got no place to put it, Bret.

Nobody rent you enough space
to deal a 200 Black Jack game.

I didn't think we'd meet
again so soon, Maverick.

I did, Mr. Riggs.

Boys tell me a load of gaming
equipment came in this morning.

- Yours?
- Didn't your boys tell you that.

They didn't have to.

Now that I see you, I can
add two and two together.

It will never come out
four, not the way you deal.

You kept me out of
that game on the boat...

but here in Wagon
Wheel, I run the table.

Now, what were you
saying about renting a place?

Might be a place, belongs
to a woman called Ma Braus.

Where will I find her?

Just outside of town. Probably
wasting your time talking to her.

As Pappy used to say, faint
heart never filled the flush.

Point me in her direction.

You are just wasting
your time, son.

You can talk till
you're blue in the face.

I don't hold with gambling,
drinking, or them that does.

- I never drink, Ma.
- But you gamble.

- Only honestly.
- Gambling is gambling.

Don't you wanna see
Joe Riggs closed up?

Oh, the devil will
get him some day.

I would like to help.

The devil does plenty of business
in this town, he don't need you.

Riggs is crooked, you know that.

But there ain't
nobody ever proved it.

That's because nobody's
ever gonna up against him.

Think what he did
to your husband.

Found out a lot
about me, didn't you?

Everything I could. Riggs
took all your husband's money.

Left you with just this house
and that old building I want to rent.

What makes you think you
can put Riggs out of business?

All I want is the chance.

He owns this town.

Don't you think it's about time
somebody took it away from him?

You talk big.

You better pack up your duds
and head out of Wagon Wheel.

You are young yet. You
got a lot of life waiting for you.

But not if you try
to buck Joe Riggs.

Ma, if I don't rent your place,
I'll open a game in a tent.

And they'll bury you in it.

I hear everyone likes you,
Ma, do almost anything for you.

I just thought you might
like to repay the favor.

I guess not. Sorry
I took your time.

Hold on.

I seen a lot of men come and go.

Big talkers and them
that didn't talk at all.

Cowards, brave men...

- some in between.
- Where do you figure I fit in, Ma?

I don't know.

But I am gonna rent you
that building and find out.

Come in the kitchen,
I'll brew you some coffee.

Everything is all set, Samantha.

I've rented a place. Just sent Mike
to take out an ad in the local paper.

- Oh, when do we open?
- Tomorrow or the next day.

Depends on how fast
we get the equipment in.

Uh, Bret, there's
just one little thing.

Yeah, what?

Well, I gave you $9000...

and, uh, I just don't
have a thing to show for it.

What do you want, a receipt?

Oh, I don't want you
to go to any trouble.

Why don't you just
give me the bills of sale?

Thank you.

Have you heard from your father?

- No, no, I haven't.
- Did you write to him?

Oh, yes, I always write.

Well, did you tell him
what you were gonna do?

Uh, no, why?

Oh, I was just wondering.

- What's that? What?
- Handbills.

Fellow turned green when I told
him I wanted to take out an ad.

He's scared of Riggs. Finally
talked him into printing those.

"Grand opening, The Square
Deck, games of chance...

$5000 reward to anyone
who finds a dishonest game.

No other place in town
can make that offer."

These will do it.

- We'll start passing them out today.
- We?

You don't think anybody else in this
town is gonna do it. Take a handful, Mike.

See you later, Samantha.

Gentlemen, gentlemen, gather
around, I got news for you.

The Square Deck.

Guarantee a fair shake and
an honest deal for everyone.

When do you open?

Open in Ma Braus'
tomorrow night.

It's all true, gentlemen, The Square
Deck gives a fair shake to everyone.

Tell your friends.

Find out what it's like
to play with honest cards.

Here you are, boys,
pass them around.

- When do you open?
- Tomorrow, maybe the next day.

- Where?
- Ma Braus' old building.

Tell your friends. Better
than that, bring your friends.

- All right, step right up.
- All right, Maverick.

I gave you a fair warning
when you come in, Maverick.

- Leave them be, Riggs.
- Leave them be?

Boys, this is Bret Maverick.

Let him open a place here and
he'll have your eye teeth in a week.

You boys know how I
hate a crooked card man.

Well, he is it. They know all
about him down in the river country.

I ain't letting nobody move
in here and take your hides.

I always try to give you
boys a square shake.

I got a sign on my place.

Says you can have your money
back if you think I don't, right?

Now, wait a minute.

Hold.

I think I can take
care of him myself.

Take him, Mike.

Take him.

Stop it.

They're done, Joe.

Leave them at the edge of town.

They try to get in
again, finish them.

What are you doing
here? You give me those.

I take it you got these from our
former associate, Mr. Maverick.

You saw the affair in the street and
being a very intelligent young lady...

you came to exactly the same
conclusion that occurred to me.

- Give me those, get out of here.
- Am I right?

You were about to
dissolve your partnership...

and offer Mr. Riggs a deal.

I can hardly blame you.

But you do have two other
partners, Miss Crawford.

Mr. Cross and myself.

Mr. Tree, you and I have the bills of
sale, George doesn't even have to be in...

My, how you twist and turn.

You know, I told you, I have a
certain loyalty toward my clients.

We'll... We'll wait
for Mr. Cross, here.

Is George here?

That's stupid. Maverick will
recognize him, then where are we?

I rather doubt Mr. Maverick
can recognize anybody now...

and besides, what
difference does it make?

Obviously, we
over-estimated his abilities.

Or under-estimated Mr. Riggs.

And as I said, we
wait for Mr. Cross here.

And then perhaps the
three of us can see Riggs.

Excuse me.

Uh-uh...

Thank you.

- Now you just hold it.
- Easy. Easy.

Well, you look a lot better
than when I found you.

We're walking now, that's the difference.
We are headed right back into town.

Now you are not
talking sense at all.

You are both lucky Riggs
didn't have you killed.

- Aren't you worried about him?
- Why should I be?

He won't take kindly to you
picking us up and bringing us here.

There's one thing
Joe Riggs knows.

If he so much as
laid a finger on me...

he'd have to answer to every
miner and cow hand in this valley.

- That's nice to know.
- I don't know what you mean by that.

But there's a stage out of here leaving
tomorrow morning, you better be riding it.

Ma?

How would you like to take us
back into town close to the hotel?

Without Riggs seeing us.

Oh, I wouldn't take you too
near that place. Not till after dark.

Yeah.

- Somebody to see you, boss.
- Excuse me.

- May I?
- Who are you and what do you want?

Uh, my name is Cross, Miss Crawford,
Mr. Tree. We're Maverick's partners.

May be you didn't see
what happened to Maverick.

But we did. That's
why we're here.

Maybe you better listen
to what I've got to say.

You have got
nothing to say, mister.

These are bills of sale for equipment
that Maverick had shipped here.

He won't be using it.

You don't know
Maverick. He won't quit.

He just did, little while ago.

Would you like to
bet on that, Mr. Riggs?

My dear Mr. Riggs, we don't
wish to put to you out of business...

but if we stay lined up with Mr. Maverick,
I'm afraid you might find that you are.

Exactly.

We have the money to buy...

well, all the help Maverick
will need if it comes to a fight.

What's your deal?

We'll sell the equipment
to you at a small profit to us.

Let me see the bills of sale.

You paid 9000.

We are willing to let
you have it for 20,000.

Some deck's got a joker missing.

Well, Mr. Riggs, without equipment or
money Mr. Maverick won't have a chance...

but with it, heh, I'm afraid he won't
quit till he runs you out of business.

You seem pretty
sure of Maverick.

What will you tell him, in
case I accept your offer?

We don't tell him
anything. He'll be out in

the cold without
knowing how he got there.

I could fight you, but I am
willing to go the easy way.

I always wanted to get big, and
with this equipment, I can do it.

But not for 20,000 or even 5.

I'll give you 10 percent
of the Golden Bucket...

for the next three years that could
come to twice what you're asking.

- Put that in writing.
- I will.

As soon as you sign these
bills of sale over to me.

Suppose, we both start
writing at the same time.

Good evening, partners.

I see you, Mr. Cross.

I imagine you know your
daughter and I've already met.

Gee, it must be nice to
have dear old dad back again.

Quite a relief to be out
of the penitentiary, huh?

All right, Maverick,
so you know the story.

I knew it all along.

I am not likely to forget a
man who lost $50,000 to me.

Somehow you just don't seem like the type
to have a lovely daughter like Samantha.

So, what are you
going to do about it?

Well, I could
knock your head off.

But then, what'd be the use?

No, I am perfectly happy
just being a partner.

But you are not.

That true Samantha?

Uh...

I'm afraid so, Bret.

You know Samantha, it's kind
of hard keeping track of you.

You made a deal with Riggs, huh?

Kind of thought so when I
saw you coming out of his office.

I waited a long time to get
even with you and I did it.

Nobody ever cheated
me and got away with it.

And nobody ever called me
a cheat and got away with it.

Well, what next?

Bret there is
nothing you can do.

We bought in with Riggs and
we didn't steal anything from you.

I guess that's true.

I don't think I could tell anybody
that you stole that equipment from me.

Well, hardly, it was my
money that bought it.

Right again.

Samantha.

You just proved something
my old papa used to tell me.

Man's the only animal you
can skin more than once.

Good night, partner.

I waited a long time
for this. It was worth it.

Wonder what he'll do now.

I hope he goes into the Riggs
place and gets his brains beat out.

What's the matter, Samantha,
you got a soft spot for him?

- Well, Brett?
- Whipsawed, Mike. Ten ways from Sunday.

- They're sneaking double-crossers.
- Whipsawed, but not licked.

You said something this
evening that interested me.

- When I called you a fool?
- Among other things.

Think you could walk into
Riggs' place and get away with it?

- I could, why?
- What if Mike and I walked in with you?

- I'll be at the wake.
- Let's go, Ma.

What are you
gonna do? Wait, wait.

Wait, Bret. You're foolish
just walking into his place.

Well done, my boy. How is it
going, man, everything fine?

Yeah, tomorrow's
another day, heh.

Evening, Joe.

- Outside you two.
- Take it easy Riggs.

I just came in for a friendly game of
Black Jack, you can't object to that.

- I do.
- Hold on.

This here is a friend of mine.

Boys, can't a friend of
mine play if he wants to.

Why don't you want
me to play, Riggs?

Well?

Go ahead.

I don't mind using
the same deck.

We'll break a new one.

We'll use the same one.

If it was all right for these
gentlemen, it's all right for me.

Go ahead, deal.

All right, now, let's
see, I got a ten and a six.

Ordinarily I'd stand on 16.

Since that top card's a
five or under, I'll take it.

Go ahead, deal it, Riggs.

- What are you trying to do?
- Show you up for a crook.

Face card.

Twenty six and nine.

Face card.

Five or under.

Now, don't feel
too bad, gentlemen.

Mr. Riggs uses only the
newest and best marked cards.

You can study him
for a week and not find

anything if you didn't
know what to look for.

Now, let's take a
look at the Faro setup.

Or do we have to?
And that Roulette.

How much did you pay for
that rigged Roulette wheel?

Fine, move it, over there.

You know, I remember a
crooked place in New Orleans.

You know what happened to it?

A customer smashed it to bits.

Hold it. Hold it.

Now, hold it gentlemen.

I could have killed him
before if that's what I wanted.

Turn him over to us, that's all.

Then I'd have turn you over to
the sheriff. Now, go on home, men.

Riggs is through short-carding
and second-dealing you.

- Go on.
- Let's go boys, fun's over.

- He's got bills of sale for the equipment.
- Give me those.

- They're signed over to me.
- I know Riggs. The stuff's yours.

You won't be doing
anything with them.

Not west of the Mississippi
when the story gets around.

Hold on now.

I never thought I'd live to see
an honest gambler and I did.

I guess I owe you
something for this, son.

Joe, I'll buy those
bills of sale from you.

I'll give you $2000. It's all
the money I got in the world.

- They worth nine.
- They ain't worth a brass cent to you.

You'll take the 2000.

I'll meet you at the bank in the
morning and give you the money.

What're you gonna
do with that equipment?

I'm gonna start an honest place.

You want a job, don't you?

Well, I can't run a
gambling place by myself.

Mike will help you,
Ma, he's the expert.

You got anything better to do?

No.

I don't know what kind of a cut
Riggs gave you, whatever it was...

chalk it up to profit and loss.

- I sure wish you'd stay, son.
- Mike will take care of you, Ma.

Mike says you
need $5000 real bad.

Does he?

I think you earned all
that and a whole lot more.

So as soon as I've got that much
to spare, where shall I send it?

To a couple of New Orleans ship
owners by the name of Bledsoe and Hayes.

Mike's got the address.
And thanks, Ma.

Have you got enough
money right now?

Oh, thanks. I've
got just enough.

Allow me?

Excuse me.

Take care of my girl, Mike.

Hyah!

It's a long way to Kansas city.

High card deals.

- Seven of clubs.
- Ten of diamonds.

Ten of hearts.

Ace of spades.