The Twilight Zone (1959–1964): Season 3, Episode 5 - A Game of Pool - full transcript
A frustrated pool champ has beaten everyone. Everyone except one man; the legend, Fats Brown. Brown is dead, and the champ can only curse his name. But guess who just walked in.
( theme music playing)
YOU'RE TRAVELING THROUGH
ANOTHER DIMENSION...
A DIMENSION NOT ONLY OF
SIGHT AND SOUND, BUT OF MIND,
A JOURNEY INTO A WONDROUS LAND
WHOSE BOUNDARIES
ARE THAT OF IMAGINATION.
YOUR NEXT STOP,
THE TWILIGHT ZONE.
YES!
YOU SEE WHAT I MEAN?
DID YOU SEE THAT?
THE RIGHT ENGLISH, THE RIGHT
DRAW, PERFECT POSITION, RIGHT?
WHAT DO I GET?
FATS BROWN, THAT'S
WHAT I GET, FATS BROWN.
WELL, I'M SICK OF IT.
I'M SICK OF HEARING HIS NAME!
I'M THE BEST POOL CUE
ON RANDOLPH STREET.
ME, JESSE CARDIFF,
AND YOU KNOW THAT!
ALL RIGHT, ALL RIGHT...
FATS WAS GOOD.
I MEAN, HE WAS GOOD, RIGHT?
BUT HE'S DEAD.
YOU HEAR ME? HE'S DEAD.
HE'S BEEN DEAD
FOR OVER 15 YEARS,
BUT EVERY TIME I TURN
AROUND I HEAR HIS NAME!
"OH, YOU'RE PRETTY GOOD,
JESSE, BUT FATS IS BETTER.
FATS IS THE BEST!"
FATS, FATS!
I'LL SAY IT AGAIN...
FATS BROWN IS DEAD!
AND BURIED IN THE GROUND.
AND IF HE WAS ALIVE AND IN
THIS ROOM I COULD BEAT HIM.
I'D GIVE ANYTHING...
ANYTHING TO PLAY HIM ONE GAME!
Woman: Fats Brown, Fats
Brown, report to Lister's Pool Room
Randolph Street, Chicago.
Fats Brown, Fats Brown,
Lister's Pool Room,
Randolph Street, Chicago.
IF YOU WERE HERE, FATS BROWN,
I'D SHOW YOU WHO WAS THE BEST.
ONE GAME, ONE LOUSY GAME...
AT YOUR SERVICE.
JESSE CARDIFF, POOL SHARK...
THE BEST ON RANDOLPH STREET...
WHO WILL SOON LEARN THAT
TRYING TO BE THE BEST AT ANYTHING
CARRIES ITS OWN SPECIAL RISKS
IN OR OUT OF THE TWILIGHT ZONE.
YOU CALLED?
UM, BUT YOU'RE... DEAD?
NOT REALLY.
AS LONG AS PEOPLE
TALK ABOUT YOU,
YOU'RE NOT REALLY DEAD.
AS LONG AS THEY SPEAK
YOUR NAME, YOU CONTINUE.
A LEGEND DOESN'T DIE
JUST BECAUSE THE MAN DOES.
OH, NO... NO, IT'S IMPOSSIBLE.
NOTHING'S IMPOSSIBLE.
SOME THINGS ARE LESS
LIKELY THAN OTHERS, THAT'S ALL.
( sighs)
IT ISN'T A RIB.
I MEAN, IT'S YOU.
YOU'RE...
JAMES HOWARD BROWN,
KNOWN TO MY FRIENDS AS "FATS."
I KNOW IT'S A SHOCK,
BUT YOU CALLED
ME, I DIDN'T CALL YOU.
OH, WELL, I... I DIDN'T
MEAN ANYTHING, SEE?
I UNDERSTAND, IT
WAS JUST BIG TALK.
IS THAT IT?
YOU LIKE TO PLAY WITH FIRE,
BUT YOU DON'T LIKE TO COOK.
YOU'RE NOT AS GOOD AS
YOU CLAIM, AND YOU KNOW IT.
DEEP DOWN, YOU KNOW
YOU'RE SECOND-RATE.
NOW, WAIT A MINUTE!
ARE YOU AFRAID?
LOOK, I'VE COME A LONG WAY,
BOY, AND NOT TO BE FOOLED WITH.
I'VE SEEN YOUR KIND BEFORE...
A LITTLE SKILL, A KNACK, STYLE,
BUT WHEN THE
HEAT'S ON, YOU FOLD.
THAT ISN'T FAIR... YOU
NEVER SEEN ME PLAY.
MAYBE I CAN BEAT YOU.
THAT'S POSSIBLE, ISN'T IT?
IT'S POSSIBLE.
THINGS CHANGE.
RECORDS GET HIGHER.
BUT YOU'LL NEVER GET THE
JOB DONE WITH YOUR MOUTH.
ALL RIGHT, FAT BOY,
DEAD OR ALIVE, LET ME
TELL YOU SOMETHING.
MAYBE YOU ARE A
LEGEND... A TIN GOD.
YOU KNOW WHAT YOU ARE TO ME?
YOU'RE A BIG BALLOON
WAITING FOR SOMEONE
TO STICK A NEEDLE IN IT.
WELL, I'M THE SOMEONE
AND HERE'S THE NEEDLE.
YOU'RE LIKE ALL
THE OTHER LEGENDS.
YOU LIVE ON A REPUTATION.
I HEARD A MAN SWEAR
THAT HE SAW YOU MAKE
A NINE-CUSHION BANK.
AND YOU DON'T BELIEVE IT?
IT'S IMPOSSIBLE.
YOU HIT THE BALL THAT HARD,
IT WON'T STAY ON THE TABLE.
HE HAD MORE IMAGINATION
THAN BRAINS, HUH?
THEN YOU'LL PLAY ME?
YEAH.
AND WHAT ABOUT THE STAKES?
THE STAKES?
SOMETHING TO MAKE
THE GAME INTERESTING.
HERE, ANY OR ALL OF IT.
COME ON, USE YOUR WITS, BOY.
WHAT GOOD IS MONEY TO ME?
THEN WHAT?
SOMETHING TO MAKE MY
LONG JOURNEY WORTHWHILE.
NAME IT.
YOU SAID YOU'D GIVE
ANYTHING FOR A GAME WITH ME.
ANYTHING?
WHAT ARE YOU
TALKING ABOUT, MISTER?
JUST WHAT KIND OF STAKES
ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT?
LIFE OR DEATH.
YOU BEAT ME AND YOU LIVE.
YOU LOSE AND YOU DIE.
IT'S INTERESTING TO
SEE HOW MUCH FAITH
YOU HAVE IN YOURSELF.
YOU KNOW SOMETHING?
FOR MY MONEY, YOU DON'T WANT
TO BE THE BEST BAD ENOUGH, BOY.
( chuckles)
WHY, WHEN I WAS YOUR AGE,
I WOULD HAVE JUMPED
AT THE CHANCE.
BUT THEN, I WAS SOMETHING
BETTER THAN SECOND-RATE.
YOU BETTER WATCH YOURSELF.
YOU KNOW IT TAKES MORE
THAN SKILL TO BE A CHAMPION.
IT TAKES EQUAL PARTS OF
TALENT, LUCK, WORK AND NERVE...
A QUALITY YOU SADLY LACK.
NERVE, YOU MEAN INSANITY.
RISK MY LIFE ON A GAME OF POOL?
INSANITY, IF YOU PREFER.
I AM JUST A POOL PLAYER.
THERE'S PROBABLY NO LESS
IMPORTANT THING ON EARTH.
BUT MARK THIS IN YOUR
BOOK... I'M THE BEST.
IT'S A PROUD THING
TO BE THE BEST.
YOU WOULDN'T KNOW ABOUT THAT.
WHERE YOU GOING? I'M GOING BACK.
WAIT.
YOU SAY I DON'T
WANT TO BE THE BEST
BUT YOU'RE WRONG.
DO YOU KNOW HOW MANY
HOURS, HOW MANY YEARS,
HOW MUCH OF MYSELF
I'VE PUT INTO THIS GAME?
HOW MANY NIGHTS I'VE SLEPT
ON THAT TABLE RIGHT THERE?
I MADE A DEAL WITH THE OWNER
SO I COULD PRACTICE
AFTER THE PLACE CLOSED.
I HAVEN'T BEEN TO
THE MOVIES IN YEARS.
I HAVEN'T DATED A
GIRL, READ A BOOK
BECAUSE IT WOULD TAKE
TIME AWAY FROM THE GAME.
STILL TALK AND NOTHING ELSE.
I'M GOOD, MISTER!
I'M... I'M... (
meekly): I'M GOOD.
BUT AM I THAT GOOD?
YOU'LL REALLY NEVER KNOW
UNTIL YOU'RE READY
TO RISK EVERYTHING.
LOOK, WILL YOU
STOP PUSHING, HUH?
YOU KNOW, WHERE I COME FROM,
THERE'S A RACE DRIVER.
GO TO THE TRACK
AND WHISPER HIS NAME.
SAY "TAZIO NUVOLARI"
AND WATCH THE HEADS
NOD UP AND DOWN.
OR GO TO A BULLRING
AND HEAR OF MANOLETE.
BOTH MEN FACED DEATH DAILY
AND BOTH ARE LEGENDS.
YOU NEVER MAKE THE
GRADE AT ANYTHING
BY PLAYING IT SAFE.
OH, BOY, THIS IS NUTTY.
NO.
YOU ACCEPT THE
TERMS... LIFE OR DEATH?
( balls clattering)
YOU KNOW, THE BIG GAME
HUNTER HAS HIS ELEPHANT GUN.
AND THE FENCER, HE
USES A BLADE FROM LIMA.
THIS CUE WAS MADE FOR
ME SPECIAL, ST. LOUIS.
COST $600.
YEP, I MADE MY LIVING
WITH IT FOR 35 YEARS.
NAME THE GAME.
ROTATION?
KELLY.
14.1 RACK.
8-BALL.
WELL, LET'S ( clears throat)
LET'S SEE HOW GOOD
YOU REALLY ARE.
UH, 14.1 RACK, ONE
GAME, 300 POINTS.
YOU GOT A COIN?
TOSS FOR BREAK?
YOU CALL IT.
TAILS.
CHANGE YOUR MIND?
YOU CAN, YOU KNOW.
HEADS... MY BREAK.
I KNOW WHAT YOU'RE
THINKING, SON...
"THE MAN WHO BREAKS
IS AT A DISADVANTAGE.
"ONCE HE SCATTERS THE BALLS
THE OTHER MAN
HAS A CLEAR FIELD."
SURE.
SAFE.
WOW.
TWO BALLS INTO THE RAIL...
A PERFECT BREAK AND
NO ADVANTAGE GIVEN.
NOW IT'S YOU TURN
TO SCATTER THEM.
SAFE.
DO SOMETHING WITH THAT.
15 BALL IN THE CORNER POCKET.
( chuckles) THERE'S
A FUNNY THING...
I WAS THINKING IF I SINK IT,
YOU'RE REALLY IN TROUBLE.
WITH LUCK, I CAN RUN THE TABLE.
AND IF YOU MISS, YOU
LEAVE ME WIDE OPEN.
NINE BALL IN THE CORNER.
TEN BALL, THREE
CUSHION, IN THE SIDE.
HOW ABOUT THAT, FAT BOY?
NOT BAD.
THAT WAS GREAT.
YOU'RE LIKE ALL THE OTHERS.
WHEN I WAS A KID, I KNEW
A LOT OF GUYS LIKE YOU.
GUYS WHO WERE GOOD AT THINGS
LIKE MUSIC AND BASKETBALL.
GUYS WHO WOULD DO ANYTHING
TO MAKE ME FEEL ABOUT THAT BIG.
BUT YOU FOOLED THEM, RIGHT?
YEAH, I DID, THAT'S RIGHT.
I DID.
TWO BALL IN THE CORNER POCKET.
I KNEW THERE WAS
SOMETHING I COULD BE GOOD AT.
ONE DAY, I WAS ABOUT
16, I WANDERED INTO HERE.
IT WAS COOL AND DARK
LIKE... LIKE BEING UNDERWATER.
I USED TO COME BACK. I
USED TO WATCH THEM PLAY.
ONE DAY I PICKED UP A
CUE, I ASKED AN OLD MAN,
HE WAS SITTING RIGHT
OVER THERE, RIGHT THERE,
I SAID, "YOU WANT
TO PLAY, MISTER?"
AND I BEAT HIM.
THE FIRST TIME I EVER
PLAYED HIM, AND I BEAT HIM!
I KNEW I HAD AN
EYE FOR THIS GAME.
WHAT HAPPENED TO IT?
I ALMOST MADE IT.
FUNNY THING, IN GEOMETRY,
"ALMOST" ISN'T ENOUGH.
GEOMETRY? MM-HMM.
POOL IS GEOMETRY...
IN ITS MOST CHALLENGING FORM...
A SCIENCE OF PRECISE
ANGLES AND FORCES.
14 IN THE END POCKET.
ANGLES AND FORCES, HUH?
YOU SEWED YOURSELF
UP PRETTY GOOD.
13 BALL... CORNER POCKET.
HA!
YOUR SHOT.
SIX, CORNER.
FOUR, CORNER.
TWELVE.
13 IN THE CORNER POCKET.
FOUR BALL, CORNER.
TWO BALL, CORNER.
FIVE BALL IN THE SIDE.
15 IN THE SIDE POCKET.
( whistling)
I'VE GOT 59, YOU'VE
GOT SEVEN POINTS.
THE GAME IS YOUNG
YET, VERY YOUNG.
RACK THEM UP.
ONE BALL, END POCKET.
SEVEN.
FIVE.
ELEVEN.
EIGHT.
( ball clatters in pocket)
( cue hitting balls)
Jesse: TEN BALL IN
THE CORNER POCKET.
YOU NEEDED THOSE
FOUR BALLS TO WIN.
SEE THE SCORE?
I GOT 299, YOU GOT 296.
YEAH, YEAH, I SEE THE SCORE.
WELL, I NEED THAT ONE TO WIN.
YOU NEED ALL OF THEM.
JUST THAT ONE.
BANK THE FIVE... IN THE CORNER.
YOU KNOW SOMETHING, JESSE?
THERE'S MORE TO LIFE
THAN THIS POOL HALL.
IT ISN'T RIGHT, YOUR BEING
ALL COOPED UP IN HERE.
YOU OUGHT TO GET OUT A LITTLE
SEE WHAT'S GOING ON.
YOU DIDN'T GET TO BE THE
BEST SITTING ON A PARK BENCH.
YOU SPENT A LOT OF TIME
WITH THAT CUE IN YOUR HANDS.
OF COURSE I DID.
BUT I TOOK TIME
OUT TO LIVE, TOO.
I'VE BEEN PLACES WHERE
THEY NEVER HEARD OF BILLIARDS.
15 BALL IN THE CORNER POCKET.
I MAY NOT LOOK THE PART, JESSE,
BUT I MADE LOVE,
WALKED UPHILL,
SWAM IN THE OCEAN...
WHEN I THINK OF THE
WONDERFUL THINGS THERE ARE
TO SEE AND TO DO,
IT HURTS ME... YEAH...
TO SEE YOU ROTTING
YOUR LIFE AWAY
IN THIS MISERABLE, DARK HALL.
YOU'RE LYING.
YOU'RE TRYING TO DISTRACT ME.
THAT'S A LOUSY THING TO DO.
15 IN THE CORNER.
( tapping)
( cue crashes loudly to floor)
YOU MADE ME DO THAT!
YOU MADE ME MISS!
AW, COME ON, A
LITTLE GAMESMANSHIP,
A LITTLE FUN AND YOU COME APART.
KID STUFF TO MAKE YOU
BREAK YOUR CONCENTRATION
AND YOU GET WILD.
THERE IT IS... THE GAME BALL.
ALL MY LIFE I'VE BEEN
WAITING FOR THIS, IT'S...
IT'S A POCKET HANGER.
I SINK THAT... I
BECOME THE GREATEST.
IF YOU SINK IT.
YOU'RE SWEATING.
WHY YOU SO NERVOUS?
OH, FOR REASONS I'M AFRAID
YOU WOULDN'T UNDERSTAND.
I UNDERSTAND ALL RIGHT.
IT MEANS A LOT, DOESN'T IT?
EVEN AS A DEAD MAN...
HAVE YOUR NAME UP THERE...
"THE UNBEATABLE
CHAMP OF ALL TIMES!"
CARRIES CERTAIN SATISFACTIONS.
"I'LL GIVE YOU A
CHANCE AT MY CROWN,
BUT ONLY IF YOU STAKE
YOUR LIFE ON THE GAME!"
COULDN'T BE A NICE
FRIENDLY, LITTLE GAME!
I TAKE THEM AS I FIND THEM.
TO YOU, POOL IS NOT
A NICE, FRIENDLY GAME.
IT'S A WIN-AT-ANY-PRICE AFFAIR.
I ACTED ACCORDINGLY.
IT DIDN'T DO YOU ANY GOOD.
THERE'S STILL ONE
BALL ON THE TABLE
AND IT'S TAKING YOU A
MIGHTY LONG TIME TO GET AT IT.
WHY?
YOU WOULDN'T
BELIEVE THIS, JESSE,
BUT PERSONALLY, I'D
LIKE TO SEE YOU WIN.
YEAH.
BELIEVE ME, I'VE ONLY
BEEN DOING MY JOB.
SOMEONE HAS TO KEEP THE FLAME.
SOMEONE HAS TO WEED OUT THOSE
WHO HAVEN'T GOT WHAT IT TAKES.
YOU SEE, THE
CHAMPIONS, THE LEGENDS,
THEY SERVE AS A PURPOSE,
A CHALLENGE, AN INCENTIVE.
I DON'T NEED A CHALLENGE.
EVERYONE NEEDS A
CHALLENGE, JESSE...
SOMEONE GREAT OUT
OF THE PAST TO SAY,
"MATCH WHAT I'VE DONE,
BOY, AND MAKE IT BETTER."
THAT'S TRUE IN
ALL WALKS OF LIFE...
MUSIC, POLITICS,
SPORTS, YOU NAME IT.
ME... I'M ONLY A POOL PLAYER,
BUT I'M THE BEST.
YOU WERE THE BEST.
WAIT A MINUTE, JESSE.
BEFORE YOU SHOOT,
THINK OF THIS...
SHOOT THAT BALL,
AND YOU MAY WIN MORE
THAN YOU BARGAINED FOR.
THERE'S NOTHING YOU
CAN SAY THAT WILL STOP ME.
NOTHING.
I'M SORRY.
I WAS REQUIRED TO SAY THAT.
WIN MORE THAN I
BARGAINED FOR, HUH?
NO... I BEAT YOU.
I'M THE BEST.
I'M THE BEST AT SOMETHING.
THANKS.
WHAT DO YOU MEAN, "THANKS"?
I BEAT YOU, I'M THE BEST,
AND I'M GOING TO LIVE.
OF COURSE YOU ARE,
THOSE WERE THE STAKES.
THEN WHAT'S WITH
THE THANKS, FAT BOY?
YOU'LL FIND OUT
WHEN THE TIME COMES
FOR YOU TO LEAVE
RANDOLPH STREET.
YOU SORE LOSER.
I BEAT YOU.
I BEAT YOU FAIR AND SQUARE.
TAKE...
HEY.
COME ON.
WELL, YOU SAW IT, DIDN'T YOU?
I BEAT THE KING OF
THE HILL, FATS BROWN!
ME... JESSE CARDIFF.
AND NOW I'M THE BEST.
AND I'M GOING TO STAY THE BEST
BECAUSE NOBODY IS EVER
GOING TO TAKE IT AWAY FROM ME.
NOBODY EVER!
IT'S ME, JESSE
CARDIFF, YOU HEAR?
JESSE CARDIFF, JESSE CARDIFF!
JESSE CARDIFF, JESSE CARDIFF...
Woman: Jesse Cardiff,
Jesse Cardiff, Jesse Cardiff.
Report at once to Mason's
Pool Hall, Sandusky, Ohio.
MR. JESSE CARDIFF, WHO
BECAME A LEGEND BY BEATING ONE,
BUT WHO HAS FOUND
OUT AFTER HIS FUNERAL
THAT BEING THE BEST OF ANYTHING
CARRIES WITH IT A
SPECIAL AN OBLIGATION
TO KEEP ON PROVING IT.
MR. FATS BROWN,
ON THE OTHER HAND,
HAVING RELINQUISHED
THE CHAMPION'S MANTLE,
HAS GONE FISHING.
THESE ARE THE GROUND
RULES IN THE TWILIGHT ZONE.
Announcer: ROD SERLING,
CREATOR OF THE TWILIGHT ZONE,
WILL TELL YOU ABOUT
NEXT WEEK'S STORY
AFTER THIS WORD FROM
OUR ALTERNATE SPONSOR.
AND NOW, MR. SERLING.
WE'VE HAD SOME
PERFORMANCES OF GREAT DEPTH
ON THE TWILIGHT ZONE, AND
NEXT WEEK IS NO EXCEPTION.
A DISTINGUISHED AND
INCREDIBLY TALENTED YOUNG MAN
LENDS US HIS SERVICES
WHEN PETER FALK
STARS IN "THE MIRROR."
THIS IS THE STORY OF A
TYRANT AND HIS ASSASSINS,
A SHATTERED DREAM AND
THE DEATH OF A CAUSE.
NEXT WEEK ON THE
TWILIGHT ZONE, "THE MIRROR."
Announcer: BE SURE AND WATCH
GUNSMOKE STARRING JAMES ARNESS,
SATURDAY NIGHTS OVER
MOST OF THESE SAME STATIONS.
YOU'RE TRAVELING THROUGH
ANOTHER DIMENSION...
A DIMENSION NOT ONLY OF
SIGHT AND SOUND, BUT OF MIND,
A JOURNEY INTO A WONDROUS LAND
WHOSE BOUNDARIES
ARE THAT OF IMAGINATION.
YOUR NEXT STOP,
THE TWILIGHT ZONE.
YES!
YOU SEE WHAT I MEAN?
DID YOU SEE THAT?
THE RIGHT ENGLISH, THE RIGHT
DRAW, PERFECT POSITION, RIGHT?
WHAT DO I GET?
FATS BROWN, THAT'S
WHAT I GET, FATS BROWN.
WELL, I'M SICK OF IT.
I'M SICK OF HEARING HIS NAME!
I'M THE BEST POOL CUE
ON RANDOLPH STREET.
ME, JESSE CARDIFF,
AND YOU KNOW THAT!
ALL RIGHT, ALL RIGHT...
FATS WAS GOOD.
I MEAN, HE WAS GOOD, RIGHT?
BUT HE'S DEAD.
YOU HEAR ME? HE'S DEAD.
HE'S BEEN DEAD
FOR OVER 15 YEARS,
BUT EVERY TIME I TURN
AROUND I HEAR HIS NAME!
"OH, YOU'RE PRETTY GOOD,
JESSE, BUT FATS IS BETTER.
FATS IS THE BEST!"
FATS, FATS!
I'LL SAY IT AGAIN...
FATS BROWN IS DEAD!
AND BURIED IN THE GROUND.
AND IF HE WAS ALIVE AND IN
THIS ROOM I COULD BEAT HIM.
I'D GIVE ANYTHING...
ANYTHING TO PLAY HIM ONE GAME!
Woman: Fats Brown, Fats
Brown, report to Lister's Pool Room
Randolph Street, Chicago.
Fats Brown, Fats Brown,
Lister's Pool Room,
Randolph Street, Chicago.
IF YOU WERE HERE, FATS BROWN,
I'D SHOW YOU WHO WAS THE BEST.
ONE GAME, ONE LOUSY GAME...
AT YOUR SERVICE.
JESSE CARDIFF, POOL SHARK...
THE BEST ON RANDOLPH STREET...
WHO WILL SOON LEARN THAT
TRYING TO BE THE BEST AT ANYTHING
CARRIES ITS OWN SPECIAL RISKS
IN OR OUT OF THE TWILIGHT ZONE.
YOU CALLED?
UM, BUT YOU'RE... DEAD?
NOT REALLY.
AS LONG AS PEOPLE
TALK ABOUT YOU,
YOU'RE NOT REALLY DEAD.
AS LONG AS THEY SPEAK
YOUR NAME, YOU CONTINUE.
A LEGEND DOESN'T DIE
JUST BECAUSE THE MAN DOES.
OH, NO... NO, IT'S IMPOSSIBLE.
NOTHING'S IMPOSSIBLE.
SOME THINGS ARE LESS
LIKELY THAN OTHERS, THAT'S ALL.
( sighs)
IT ISN'T A RIB.
I MEAN, IT'S YOU.
YOU'RE...
JAMES HOWARD BROWN,
KNOWN TO MY FRIENDS AS "FATS."
I KNOW IT'S A SHOCK,
BUT YOU CALLED
ME, I DIDN'T CALL YOU.
OH, WELL, I... I DIDN'T
MEAN ANYTHING, SEE?
I UNDERSTAND, IT
WAS JUST BIG TALK.
IS THAT IT?
YOU LIKE TO PLAY WITH FIRE,
BUT YOU DON'T LIKE TO COOK.
YOU'RE NOT AS GOOD AS
YOU CLAIM, AND YOU KNOW IT.
DEEP DOWN, YOU KNOW
YOU'RE SECOND-RATE.
NOW, WAIT A MINUTE!
ARE YOU AFRAID?
LOOK, I'VE COME A LONG WAY,
BOY, AND NOT TO BE FOOLED WITH.
I'VE SEEN YOUR KIND BEFORE...
A LITTLE SKILL, A KNACK, STYLE,
BUT WHEN THE
HEAT'S ON, YOU FOLD.
THAT ISN'T FAIR... YOU
NEVER SEEN ME PLAY.
MAYBE I CAN BEAT YOU.
THAT'S POSSIBLE, ISN'T IT?
IT'S POSSIBLE.
THINGS CHANGE.
RECORDS GET HIGHER.
BUT YOU'LL NEVER GET THE
JOB DONE WITH YOUR MOUTH.
ALL RIGHT, FAT BOY,
DEAD OR ALIVE, LET ME
TELL YOU SOMETHING.
MAYBE YOU ARE A
LEGEND... A TIN GOD.
YOU KNOW WHAT YOU ARE TO ME?
YOU'RE A BIG BALLOON
WAITING FOR SOMEONE
TO STICK A NEEDLE IN IT.
WELL, I'M THE SOMEONE
AND HERE'S THE NEEDLE.
YOU'RE LIKE ALL
THE OTHER LEGENDS.
YOU LIVE ON A REPUTATION.
I HEARD A MAN SWEAR
THAT HE SAW YOU MAKE
A NINE-CUSHION BANK.
AND YOU DON'T BELIEVE IT?
IT'S IMPOSSIBLE.
YOU HIT THE BALL THAT HARD,
IT WON'T STAY ON THE TABLE.
HE HAD MORE IMAGINATION
THAN BRAINS, HUH?
THEN YOU'LL PLAY ME?
YEAH.
AND WHAT ABOUT THE STAKES?
THE STAKES?
SOMETHING TO MAKE
THE GAME INTERESTING.
HERE, ANY OR ALL OF IT.
COME ON, USE YOUR WITS, BOY.
WHAT GOOD IS MONEY TO ME?
THEN WHAT?
SOMETHING TO MAKE MY
LONG JOURNEY WORTHWHILE.
NAME IT.
YOU SAID YOU'D GIVE
ANYTHING FOR A GAME WITH ME.
ANYTHING?
WHAT ARE YOU
TALKING ABOUT, MISTER?
JUST WHAT KIND OF STAKES
ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT?
LIFE OR DEATH.
YOU BEAT ME AND YOU LIVE.
YOU LOSE AND YOU DIE.
IT'S INTERESTING TO
SEE HOW MUCH FAITH
YOU HAVE IN YOURSELF.
YOU KNOW SOMETHING?
FOR MY MONEY, YOU DON'T WANT
TO BE THE BEST BAD ENOUGH, BOY.
( chuckles)
WHY, WHEN I WAS YOUR AGE,
I WOULD HAVE JUMPED
AT THE CHANCE.
BUT THEN, I WAS SOMETHING
BETTER THAN SECOND-RATE.
YOU BETTER WATCH YOURSELF.
YOU KNOW IT TAKES MORE
THAN SKILL TO BE A CHAMPION.
IT TAKES EQUAL PARTS OF
TALENT, LUCK, WORK AND NERVE...
A QUALITY YOU SADLY LACK.
NERVE, YOU MEAN INSANITY.
RISK MY LIFE ON A GAME OF POOL?
INSANITY, IF YOU PREFER.
I AM JUST A POOL PLAYER.
THERE'S PROBABLY NO LESS
IMPORTANT THING ON EARTH.
BUT MARK THIS IN YOUR
BOOK... I'M THE BEST.
IT'S A PROUD THING
TO BE THE BEST.
YOU WOULDN'T KNOW ABOUT THAT.
WHERE YOU GOING? I'M GOING BACK.
WAIT.
YOU SAY I DON'T
WANT TO BE THE BEST
BUT YOU'RE WRONG.
DO YOU KNOW HOW MANY
HOURS, HOW MANY YEARS,
HOW MUCH OF MYSELF
I'VE PUT INTO THIS GAME?
HOW MANY NIGHTS I'VE SLEPT
ON THAT TABLE RIGHT THERE?
I MADE A DEAL WITH THE OWNER
SO I COULD PRACTICE
AFTER THE PLACE CLOSED.
I HAVEN'T BEEN TO
THE MOVIES IN YEARS.
I HAVEN'T DATED A
GIRL, READ A BOOK
BECAUSE IT WOULD TAKE
TIME AWAY FROM THE GAME.
STILL TALK AND NOTHING ELSE.
I'M GOOD, MISTER!
I'M... I'M... (
meekly): I'M GOOD.
BUT AM I THAT GOOD?
YOU'LL REALLY NEVER KNOW
UNTIL YOU'RE READY
TO RISK EVERYTHING.
LOOK, WILL YOU
STOP PUSHING, HUH?
YOU KNOW, WHERE I COME FROM,
THERE'S A RACE DRIVER.
GO TO THE TRACK
AND WHISPER HIS NAME.
SAY "TAZIO NUVOLARI"
AND WATCH THE HEADS
NOD UP AND DOWN.
OR GO TO A BULLRING
AND HEAR OF MANOLETE.
BOTH MEN FACED DEATH DAILY
AND BOTH ARE LEGENDS.
YOU NEVER MAKE THE
GRADE AT ANYTHING
BY PLAYING IT SAFE.
OH, BOY, THIS IS NUTTY.
NO.
YOU ACCEPT THE
TERMS... LIFE OR DEATH?
( balls clattering)
YOU KNOW, THE BIG GAME
HUNTER HAS HIS ELEPHANT GUN.
AND THE FENCER, HE
USES A BLADE FROM LIMA.
THIS CUE WAS MADE FOR
ME SPECIAL, ST. LOUIS.
COST $600.
YEP, I MADE MY LIVING
WITH IT FOR 35 YEARS.
NAME THE GAME.
ROTATION?
KELLY.
14.1 RACK.
8-BALL.
WELL, LET'S ( clears throat)
LET'S SEE HOW GOOD
YOU REALLY ARE.
UH, 14.1 RACK, ONE
GAME, 300 POINTS.
YOU GOT A COIN?
TOSS FOR BREAK?
YOU CALL IT.
TAILS.
CHANGE YOUR MIND?
YOU CAN, YOU KNOW.
HEADS... MY BREAK.
I KNOW WHAT YOU'RE
THINKING, SON...
"THE MAN WHO BREAKS
IS AT A DISADVANTAGE.
"ONCE HE SCATTERS THE BALLS
THE OTHER MAN
HAS A CLEAR FIELD."
SURE.
SAFE.
WOW.
TWO BALLS INTO THE RAIL...
A PERFECT BREAK AND
NO ADVANTAGE GIVEN.
NOW IT'S YOU TURN
TO SCATTER THEM.
SAFE.
DO SOMETHING WITH THAT.
15 BALL IN THE CORNER POCKET.
( chuckles) THERE'S
A FUNNY THING...
I WAS THINKING IF I SINK IT,
YOU'RE REALLY IN TROUBLE.
WITH LUCK, I CAN RUN THE TABLE.
AND IF YOU MISS, YOU
LEAVE ME WIDE OPEN.
NINE BALL IN THE CORNER.
TEN BALL, THREE
CUSHION, IN THE SIDE.
HOW ABOUT THAT, FAT BOY?
NOT BAD.
THAT WAS GREAT.
YOU'RE LIKE ALL THE OTHERS.
WHEN I WAS A KID, I KNEW
A LOT OF GUYS LIKE YOU.
GUYS WHO WERE GOOD AT THINGS
LIKE MUSIC AND BASKETBALL.
GUYS WHO WOULD DO ANYTHING
TO MAKE ME FEEL ABOUT THAT BIG.
BUT YOU FOOLED THEM, RIGHT?
YEAH, I DID, THAT'S RIGHT.
I DID.
TWO BALL IN THE CORNER POCKET.
I KNEW THERE WAS
SOMETHING I COULD BE GOOD AT.
ONE DAY, I WAS ABOUT
16, I WANDERED INTO HERE.
IT WAS COOL AND DARK
LIKE... LIKE BEING UNDERWATER.
I USED TO COME BACK. I
USED TO WATCH THEM PLAY.
ONE DAY I PICKED UP A
CUE, I ASKED AN OLD MAN,
HE WAS SITTING RIGHT
OVER THERE, RIGHT THERE,
I SAID, "YOU WANT
TO PLAY, MISTER?"
AND I BEAT HIM.
THE FIRST TIME I EVER
PLAYED HIM, AND I BEAT HIM!
I KNEW I HAD AN
EYE FOR THIS GAME.
WHAT HAPPENED TO IT?
I ALMOST MADE IT.
FUNNY THING, IN GEOMETRY,
"ALMOST" ISN'T ENOUGH.
GEOMETRY? MM-HMM.
POOL IS GEOMETRY...
IN ITS MOST CHALLENGING FORM...
A SCIENCE OF PRECISE
ANGLES AND FORCES.
14 IN THE END POCKET.
ANGLES AND FORCES, HUH?
YOU SEWED YOURSELF
UP PRETTY GOOD.
13 BALL... CORNER POCKET.
HA!
YOUR SHOT.
SIX, CORNER.
FOUR, CORNER.
TWELVE.
13 IN THE CORNER POCKET.
FOUR BALL, CORNER.
TWO BALL, CORNER.
FIVE BALL IN THE SIDE.
15 IN THE SIDE POCKET.
( whistling)
I'VE GOT 59, YOU'VE
GOT SEVEN POINTS.
THE GAME IS YOUNG
YET, VERY YOUNG.
RACK THEM UP.
ONE BALL, END POCKET.
SEVEN.
FIVE.
ELEVEN.
EIGHT.
( ball clatters in pocket)
( cue hitting balls)
Jesse: TEN BALL IN
THE CORNER POCKET.
YOU NEEDED THOSE
FOUR BALLS TO WIN.
SEE THE SCORE?
I GOT 299, YOU GOT 296.
YEAH, YEAH, I SEE THE SCORE.
WELL, I NEED THAT ONE TO WIN.
YOU NEED ALL OF THEM.
JUST THAT ONE.
BANK THE FIVE... IN THE CORNER.
YOU KNOW SOMETHING, JESSE?
THERE'S MORE TO LIFE
THAN THIS POOL HALL.
IT ISN'T RIGHT, YOUR BEING
ALL COOPED UP IN HERE.
YOU OUGHT TO GET OUT A LITTLE
SEE WHAT'S GOING ON.
YOU DIDN'T GET TO BE THE
BEST SITTING ON A PARK BENCH.
YOU SPENT A LOT OF TIME
WITH THAT CUE IN YOUR HANDS.
OF COURSE I DID.
BUT I TOOK TIME
OUT TO LIVE, TOO.
I'VE BEEN PLACES WHERE
THEY NEVER HEARD OF BILLIARDS.
15 BALL IN THE CORNER POCKET.
I MAY NOT LOOK THE PART, JESSE,
BUT I MADE LOVE,
WALKED UPHILL,
SWAM IN THE OCEAN...
WHEN I THINK OF THE
WONDERFUL THINGS THERE ARE
TO SEE AND TO DO,
IT HURTS ME... YEAH...
TO SEE YOU ROTTING
YOUR LIFE AWAY
IN THIS MISERABLE, DARK HALL.
YOU'RE LYING.
YOU'RE TRYING TO DISTRACT ME.
THAT'S A LOUSY THING TO DO.
15 IN THE CORNER.
( tapping)
( cue crashes loudly to floor)
YOU MADE ME DO THAT!
YOU MADE ME MISS!
AW, COME ON, A
LITTLE GAMESMANSHIP,
A LITTLE FUN AND YOU COME APART.
KID STUFF TO MAKE YOU
BREAK YOUR CONCENTRATION
AND YOU GET WILD.
THERE IT IS... THE GAME BALL.
ALL MY LIFE I'VE BEEN
WAITING FOR THIS, IT'S...
IT'S A POCKET HANGER.
I SINK THAT... I
BECOME THE GREATEST.
IF YOU SINK IT.
YOU'RE SWEATING.
WHY YOU SO NERVOUS?
OH, FOR REASONS I'M AFRAID
YOU WOULDN'T UNDERSTAND.
I UNDERSTAND ALL RIGHT.
IT MEANS A LOT, DOESN'T IT?
EVEN AS A DEAD MAN...
HAVE YOUR NAME UP THERE...
"THE UNBEATABLE
CHAMP OF ALL TIMES!"
CARRIES CERTAIN SATISFACTIONS.
"I'LL GIVE YOU A
CHANCE AT MY CROWN,
BUT ONLY IF YOU STAKE
YOUR LIFE ON THE GAME!"
COULDN'T BE A NICE
FRIENDLY, LITTLE GAME!
I TAKE THEM AS I FIND THEM.
TO YOU, POOL IS NOT
A NICE, FRIENDLY GAME.
IT'S A WIN-AT-ANY-PRICE AFFAIR.
I ACTED ACCORDINGLY.
IT DIDN'T DO YOU ANY GOOD.
THERE'S STILL ONE
BALL ON THE TABLE
AND IT'S TAKING YOU A
MIGHTY LONG TIME TO GET AT IT.
WHY?
YOU WOULDN'T
BELIEVE THIS, JESSE,
BUT PERSONALLY, I'D
LIKE TO SEE YOU WIN.
YEAH.
BELIEVE ME, I'VE ONLY
BEEN DOING MY JOB.
SOMEONE HAS TO KEEP THE FLAME.
SOMEONE HAS TO WEED OUT THOSE
WHO HAVEN'T GOT WHAT IT TAKES.
YOU SEE, THE
CHAMPIONS, THE LEGENDS,
THEY SERVE AS A PURPOSE,
A CHALLENGE, AN INCENTIVE.
I DON'T NEED A CHALLENGE.
EVERYONE NEEDS A
CHALLENGE, JESSE...
SOMEONE GREAT OUT
OF THE PAST TO SAY,
"MATCH WHAT I'VE DONE,
BOY, AND MAKE IT BETTER."
THAT'S TRUE IN
ALL WALKS OF LIFE...
MUSIC, POLITICS,
SPORTS, YOU NAME IT.
ME... I'M ONLY A POOL PLAYER,
BUT I'M THE BEST.
YOU WERE THE BEST.
WAIT A MINUTE, JESSE.
BEFORE YOU SHOOT,
THINK OF THIS...
SHOOT THAT BALL,
AND YOU MAY WIN MORE
THAN YOU BARGAINED FOR.
THERE'S NOTHING YOU
CAN SAY THAT WILL STOP ME.
NOTHING.
I'M SORRY.
I WAS REQUIRED TO SAY THAT.
WIN MORE THAN I
BARGAINED FOR, HUH?
NO... I BEAT YOU.
I'M THE BEST.
I'M THE BEST AT SOMETHING.
THANKS.
WHAT DO YOU MEAN, "THANKS"?
I BEAT YOU, I'M THE BEST,
AND I'M GOING TO LIVE.
OF COURSE YOU ARE,
THOSE WERE THE STAKES.
THEN WHAT'S WITH
THE THANKS, FAT BOY?
YOU'LL FIND OUT
WHEN THE TIME COMES
FOR YOU TO LEAVE
RANDOLPH STREET.
YOU SORE LOSER.
I BEAT YOU.
I BEAT YOU FAIR AND SQUARE.
TAKE...
HEY.
COME ON.
WELL, YOU SAW IT, DIDN'T YOU?
I BEAT THE KING OF
THE HILL, FATS BROWN!
ME... JESSE CARDIFF.
AND NOW I'M THE BEST.
AND I'M GOING TO STAY THE BEST
BECAUSE NOBODY IS EVER
GOING TO TAKE IT AWAY FROM ME.
NOBODY EVER!
IT'S ME, JESSE
CARDIFF, YOU HEAR?
JESSE CARDIFF, JESSE CARDIFF!
JESSE CARDIFF, JESSE CARDIFF...
Woman: Jesse Cardiff,
Jesse Cardiff, Jesse Cardiff.
Report at once to Mason's
Pool Hall, Sandusky, Ohio.
MR. JESSE CARDIFF, WHO
BECAME A LEGEND BY BEATING ONE,
BUT WHO HAS FOUND
OUT AFTER HIS FUNERAL
THAT BEING THE BEST OF ANYTHING
CARRIES WITH IT A
SPECIAL AN OBLIGATION
TO KEEP ON PROVING IT.
MR. FATS BROWN,
ON THE OTHER HAND,
HAVING RELINQUISHED
THE CHAMPION'S MANTLE,
HAS GONE FISHING.
THESE ARE THE GROUND
RULES IN THE TWILIGHT ZONE.
Announcer: ROD SERLING,
CREATOR OF THE TWILIGHT ZONE,
WILL TELL YOU ABOUT
NEXT WEEK'S STORY
AFTER THIS WORD FROM
OUR ALTERNATE SPONSOR.
AND NOW, MR. SERLING.
WE'VE HAD SOME
PERFORMANCES OF GREAT DEPTH
ON THE TWILIGHT ZONE, AND
NEXT WEEK IS NO EXCEPTION.
A DISTINGUISHED AND
INCREDIBLY TALENTED YOUNG MAN
LENDS US HIS SERVICES
WHEN PETER FALK
STARS IN "THE MIRROR."
THIS IS THE STORY OF A
TYRANT AND HIS ASSASSINS,
A SHATTERED DREAM AND
THE DEATH OF A CAUSE.
NEXT WEEK ON THE
TWILIGHT ZONE, "THE MIRROR."
Announcer: BE SURE AND WATCH
GUNSMOKE STARRING JAMES ARNESS,
SATURDAY NIGHTS OVER
MOST OF THESE SAME STATIONS.