The Wonder Years (1988–1993): Season 6, Episode 18 - Poker - full transcript

[JOE COCKER'S "WITH A LITTLE
HELP FROM MY FRIENDS" PLAYS]

-♪ BABY ♪

-♪ HIGH WITH A LITTLE
HELP FROM MY FRIENDS ♪

-♪ SAID I'M GONNA MAKE
IT WITH MY FRIENDS ♪

-♪ TRY WITH A LITTLE
HELP FROM MY FRIENDS ♪

-♪ OH, OH, I'M GONNA
KEEP ON TRYIN' ♪

-♪ GET BY WITH A LITTLE
HELP FROM MY FRIENDS ♪

-♪ I'M GONNA KEEP
ON TRYIN', NOW, BABE ♪

-♪ OOH, OOH, OOH ♪

-♪ WHEN I GROW UP TO BE A MAN ♪

-IF THERE'S ONE WAY TO
DESCRIBE ADOLESCENCE,



IT MIGHT BE THIS...

IT'S A GAMBLE.

-♪ THAT TURN ME ON AS A KID? ♪

-AN ADVENTURE INTO
THE UNEXPECTED.

A STEP INTO THE UNKNOWN.

-♪ THAT I WISH I HADN'T
DONE WHAT I DID? ♪

-IT'S A TIME OF LIFE THAT
PITS HOPE AGAINST FEAR

AND LOGIC AGAINST PRAYER.

A GAME OF LUCK AND OPPORTUNITY.

NOT UNLIKE, SAY, FOR INSTANCE...

POKER.

ALL RIGHT, I CALL.

A PAIR OF QUEENS.

SO LET'S SEE 'EM.



-TWO 2s.

-NOTHIN' BUT ACE-HIGH.

-TWO PAIR.

9s AND 4s.

-THE BI-MONTHLY, FRIDAY-NIGHT
HIGH-STAKES POKER GAME.

JEFF?

JUNIOR YEAR, IT WAS RITUAL.

-THREE KINGS.

DON'T WORRY, GUYS.

IT'S GOING TO A GOOD CAUSE. ME.

-OF COURSE, IT WAS MORE THAN
JUST A ROTATING TOURNAMENT,

DEPENDING ON WHOSE PARENTS
WERE OUT FOR THE EVENING.

AND IT WAS ABOUT MORE
THAN JUST COLD, HARD CASH.

-OKAY. NICKEL ANTE.

-THIS GAME WAS
DEFINED BY PERSONALITY.

OURS.

-OKAY, BOYS.

HOW ABOUT A LITTLE
NIGHT BASEBALL, HUH?

9s ARE WILD. 3s ARE WILD.

ANY PICTURE CARD
WITH FACIAL HAIR... WILD.

-THERE WAS THE
OVERENTHUSIASTIC...

-STRAIGHT POKER.

- AND THE ALL-AMERICAN.

-PAUL, YOUR BET.

-THERE WAS THE CAUTIOUS...

-I DON'T KNOW. LET ME
THINK FOR A SECOND.

-PAUL... WHILE
WE'RE STILL YOUNG.

AND THE IMPATIENT...

-OKAY.

THREE CENTS.

- AND, OF COURSE, THE
SUPREMELY CONFIDENT.

-A... QUARTER.

-A QUARTER?

THAT'S KIND OF STEEP, ISN'T IT?

-QUARTER.

-AND DESPITE OUR
DIFFERENT STYLES,

WE MAINTAINED THE EASY
GIVE-AND-TAKE OF FRIENDSHIP

THAT I KNEW WOULD ENDURE
WELL INTO THE FUTURE.

DON'T PUT THE GLASS
RIGHT ON THE TABLE.

MY FATHER WILL KILL
ME IF HE SEES A STAIN.

-OOH.

I'M... I'M FAIRLY CERTAIN
THESE CHAIRS OF YOURS

ARE AGGRAVATING MY PROSTATE.

-THIS HAND'S AN ALL-TIME BEAUT.

YOU SHOULD FRAME IT.

HANG IT ON THE WALL.

-OKAY, THEN. WHO NEEDS CARDS?

- GIVE ME FOUR.
- ANYONE ELSE?

-THREE.

-UH, GIVE ME TWO.

UH, UM, NO, WAIT, UM...

BETTER MAKE THAT THREE.

JEFF?

-NONE.

-NONE? YOU SURE?

-I FOLD.

-I FOLD.

-WELL, THEN...

GUESS I'M THE LUCKY WINNER.

-STILL, WE WEREN'T OLD MEN YET.

WE WERE TEENAGE BOYS...

INNOCENT. UNCOMPLICATED.

-SO, IS ANYONE HUNGRY?

- HUNGRY.
- LET'S GO.

- I GOT CHIPS.
- THE 8:00 SNACK BREAK.

A CHANCE TO MIX
SIMPLE PLEASANTRIES

WITH COMPLEX
CARBOHYDRATES AND STARCH.

-I CAN'T BELIEVE IT.

DO YOU GUYS HAVE ANY IDEA

WHAT YOU'RE PUTTING
INTO YOUR BODIES?

-WHAT DO YOU MEAN...
THIS ISN'T HEALTHY?

-I'D HATE TO SEE YOUR
DIGESTIVE TRACT IN 10 YEARS.

-TELL YOU WHAT... YOU DON'T ASK,

AND I WON'T OFFER, ALL RIGHT?

-KEV, DON'T YOU HAVE
ANY FRUIT IN THIS HOUSE?

-YEAH. IT'S ON THE BOTTOM.

-NO. ALL I SEE HERE
IS AN APPLE PIE.

-RIGHT. APPLE'S A FRUIT.

[LAUGHTER]

-FORGET IT.

I GOT AN ORANGE IN MY CAR.

LEAST I PLAN AHEAD.

-BOY, HE DOESN'T QUIT, DOES HE?

-WHAT DO YOU MEAN?

-WELL, IT'S JUST THAT
HE'S KIND OF LIKE, UM...

HOW SHALL I SAY IT?

NOT FUN.

-A MAJOR DOWNER.

-WHAT ARE YOU
GUYS TALKING ABOUT?

-UH, KEV...

ABOUT THE SKI TRIP
OVER SPRING VACATION...

-YEAH, WE'RE ALL
STILL GOING, RIGHT?

-SEE, THE THING IS...

WE DON'T THINK WE'RE GONNA
HAVE ROOM FOR PFEIFFER.

-WELL, WHAT DO YOU MEAN?

I THOUGHT ALL OF US WERE GOING.

-WELL, IT'S NOT PAUL SO MUCH.

IT'S JUST THAT, UH...

CHUCK'S CAR ONLY...
ONLY FITS FOUR PEOPLE.

-YOU CAN CHECK THE MANUAL.

-AND MY UNCLE'S CABIN
ONLY HAS FOUR BEDS.

-SO, WHAT ARE YOU
GUYS TRYING TO SAY?

EVEN THOUGH IT WAS PRETTY CLEAR.

[DOOR OPENS]
- [CLEARS THROAT]

SO, WHAT DID I MISS?

-NOW, PAUL PFEIFFER

HAD BEEN MY BEST
FRIEND FOR 17 YEARS.

I'D ALWAYS TOLD HIM EVERYTHING.

NOTHING.

REALLY.

NO, WE WERE JUST, UH... TALKING.

-WELL, COME ON, GUYS.

LET'S GET BACK TO THE GAME.

-AFTER ALL, PAUL WAS
JUST BEING HIMSELF...

-WANT AN ORANGE?

-NO, THANKS. COME ON.

AS OPPOSED, TO, SAY...

SOME OF THE REST OF US.

-CHUCK, THE BET IS A QUARTER.

YOU THREW IN A NICKEL.

-UH...

RIGHT.

QUARTER.

-BY 8:30, CHUCK COLEMAN'S
NATURAL EBULLIENCE

WAS FADING FAST.

SO, CHUCK, WHAT'S
WRONG WITH YOU?

-NOTHING! I JUST HAVE
SOME STUFF ON MY MIND.

-WHAT KIND OF STUFF?

-UH, YOU KNOW...

EH... ME AND ALICE.

-WHAT, ARE YOU
GUYS FIGHTING AGAIN?

-NO. IT'S NOTHING LIKE THAT.

-WELL, IF YOU'RE NOT FIGHTING,
WHAT ARE YOU TWO DOING?

[ROMANTIC MUSIC PLAYS]

-THERE ARE MOMENTS IN
LIFE THAT ALTER HISTORY

AND CHANGE THE
COURSE OF HUMAN EVENTS.

YOU DIDN'T.

THIS WAS ONE OF THEM.

-[CHUCKLES]

-ALL RIGHT, CHUCK!

-WAY TO GO, COLEMAN.

-IT WAS A STIRRING REVELATION

THAT MERITED ONLY ONE RESPONSE.

-YOU KNOW, I HOPE YOU USED
SOME KIND OF PROTECTION.

[MUSIC STOPS]

-HUH?

-I SAID, "I HOPE YOU
USED PROTECTION."

-OF COURSE I DID, PFEIFFER.

I MEAN, WHAT KIND OF
STOOGE DO YOU TAKE ME FOR?

-ASK AN IDIOTIC QUESTION...

-LOOK, ARE WE GONNA
PLAY CARDS OR NOT?

- NO, I'M OUT.
- ME TOO.

-YEAH, ME TOO.

-AND SPEAKING OF IDIOTIC...

-OH, YOU'RE NOT GONNA
SMOKE THAT THING, ARE YOU?

DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA WHAT
IT'S GONNA DO TO YOUR LUNGS?

NOT TO MENTION MY SWEATER?

I DON'T BELIEVE IT. HE'S
ACTUALLY LIGHTING IT.

-[BLOWS]

-PAUL, COME ON.
IT'S ONLY A CIGAR.

-LOOK, I HAVE SOME AIR
FRESHENER IN MY CAR.

I'LL BE RIGHT BACK.

-I GUESS YOU COULD
SAY PAUL'S CONSISTENCY

WAS GETTING A LITTLE
TOO CONSISTENT.

-UH... BROTHER.

-AND SO MAYBE IT WAS TIME

TO HAVE A LITTLE
TALK WITH OLD PAUL...

I'LL BE BACK IN A MINUTE.

TO CLUE HIM IN TO
PUBLIC OPINION...

DELICATELY, DIPLOMATICALLY.

PAUL, YOU'RE BEING A REAL PAIN.

-WHAT? WHAT'S THAT
SUPPOSED TO MEAN?

-WELL... YOU JUST GOT
TO LIGHTEN UP A LITTLE.

-LIGHTEN UP ABOUT WHAT?

-WELL, FOR STARTERS,

YOU CAN FORGET ABOUT
THE AIR FRESHENER.

-DO YOU KNOW HOW
MUCH IT SMELLS IN THERE?

-PAUL, WHO CARES?

IT'S JUST THE GUYS,
AND WE'RE PLAYIN' POKER.

I MEAN, DON'T MAKE SUCH
A BIG DEAL OUT OF IT, OKAY?

OKAY?

-OKAY.

YEAH.

-GREAT.

GREAT.

-STRAIGHT.

-THAT'S NOT A STRAIGHT.

-OF COURSE IT IS. LOOK.

2-3-4-5-6.

-2-3-4-5-9.

DO YOU KNOW WHAT 2-3-4-5-9 IS?

NOTHING.

-BOY, RANDY, MAYBE YOU
SHOULD BE STUDYING YOUR MATH.

-YEAH, REALLY FUNNY.

-WHICH, OF COURSE, IT WAS.

TO US, ANYWAY.

-HEY, WILL YOU
GUYS JUST SHUT UP?

FOR YOUR INFORMATION,

I FAILED MY LAST THREE
TRIGONOMETRY TESTS.

WHEN I FLUNK OUT, I BET
IT'LL BE REALLY HILARIOUS.

-OH, COME ON. YOU'RE
NOT GONNA FLUNK OUT.

-OH, YEAH?

MY GUIDANCE COUNSELOR
SAYS IF I DON'T PASS,

I'M NOT GONNA GRADUATE.

WHAT DO YOU SAY TO THAT?

-AND, OF COURSE, THERE
WAS ONLY ONE THING TO SAY.

-THREE KINGS.

-[SOBS]

-OF COURSE, SOME OF
US WERE TAKING THE NEWS

HARDER THAN OTHERS.

-CHUCK, IT'LL BE OKAY.

I STILL HAVE A CHANCE TO PASS.

IF I APPLY MYSELF...
- WHO CARES ABOUT YOU?

-WHAT'S THE MATTER, CHUCK?
YOU CAN'T BEAT THREE KINGS?

-I THINK ALICE IS PREGNANT.

-HERE, CONGRATULATIONS.
HAVE A CIGAR.

-I KNEW IT.

I KNEW IT.
- SHUT UP, PAUL.

-LOOK, I WAS JUST
TRYING TO HELP.

-YEAH, WELL, DON'T.

IT'S BEEN SAID SOBERING
NEWS TRAVELS IN BUNCHES.

AND AFTER 90 MINUTES OF POKER,

THERE WAS NO SHORTAGE
OF SOBERING NEWS.

-HOW COULD I BE SO STUPID?

-CHUCK WAS ON THE
BRINK OF FATHERHOOD.

-WELL, AT LEAST
YOU'RE PASSING TRIG.

-RANDY WAS ON THE BRINK
OF REPEATING THE 11th GRADE.

-[BLOWS]

-AND I WAS ON THE BRINK
OF HATING MY BEST FRIEND.

-KNOCK IT OFF, PFEIFFER.

-NOT TILL YOU PUT
THAT THING OUT.

-BUT IN ADDITION TO IT ALL,

IN ADDITION TO THE
GUT-WRENCHING TEENAGE MELODRAMA

PLAYING OUT BEFORE US,

ONE OTHER THING
SEEMED SLIGHTLY AMISS.

-HE STARTED IT.

-HEY.

YOU CHEATED.

WE WERE IN THE
PRESENCE OF A CROOK.

OKAY. NOW, WHERE WERE WE?

AFTER AN HOUR AND A HALF

OF OUR MONTHLY ROTATING
FRIDAY-NIGHT POKER GAME,

THIS GUY'S CHEATING...

THIS GUY'S FLUNKING SCHOOL...

THIS GUY MIGHT BE A FATHER...

THIS GUY IS ANNOYING EVERYONE...

AND THIS GUY?

WELL...

YOU CHEATED.

-I DID NOT!

MY FINGERS WERE GREASY
FROM THE POTATO CHIPS.

I-I-I'M SURE A CARD, YOU KNOW,

JUST SHOT RIGHT OUT OF MY HANDS.

ALL RIGHT, ALL RIGHT.

THEN ASK YOURSELVES THIS...

WHY WOULD I POSSIBLY
CHEAT AT CARDS?

-WELL, THE WAY I SEE IT,
YOUR MOTIVE IS GREED.

-EXCUSE ME, LIEUTENANT COLUMBO.

MAYBE I'M JUST A BETTER CARD
PLAYER THAN ALL YOU GUYS.

YOU EVER THINK OF THAT?

-I CAN'T TAKE THIS ANYMORE.

THIS IS INSANE!

-[BLOWS]

-AND SOMEHOW I COULDN'T
AVOID THE THOUGHT

MAYBE CHUCK WAS RIGHT.

YOU OKAY?

-LISTEN, I-I KNOW
WHAT YOU'RE THINKING...

THAT MY LIFE WOULD BE OVER.

-NO.

-NO. I-I KNOW HOW IT SOUNDS.

BUT IT WOULDN'T
BE THAT BAD, REALLY.

I MEAN, ALICE AND I...

WE COULD LIVE IN
MY PARENTS' ATTIC

UNTIL WE GRADUATE HIGH SCHOOL.

AND AFTER THAT, WE COULD
MOVE INTO THE GARAGE.

-CHUCK, WHY DON'T YOU WAIT
UNTIL YOU FIND OUT FOR SURE?

I MEAN, IT'S NOT LIKE YOU'RE
A DOCTOR OR ANYTHING.

-YOU THINK SO?

-YEAH.

YEAH, I MEAN...

HOW MUCH DO YOU REALLY
KNOW ABOUT BIOLOGY, ANYWAY?

APPARENTLY JUST
ENOUGH TO BE DANGEROUS.

-EXCUSE ME. I GOT TO
MAKE A PHONE CALL.

-PAUL...

-YEAH?

-WE WERE IN HERE.

YOU KNOW, CHUCK AND I.

-RIGHT. AND NOW CHUCK LEFT.

AND I'M GONNA MAKE A PHONE CALL.

- AND I DON'T KNOW.
- HELLO?

-MAYBE BECAUSE OF
WHAT THE GUYS HAD SAID

OR MAYBE BECAUSE OF
THE WAY HE WAS ACTING,

BUT SUDDENLY I WAS BEGINNING
TO SEE PAUL IN A WHOLE NEW LIGHT.

-I MEAN, MY DAD EXPECTS ME
TO GO TO SOME GREAT COLLEGE.

I DON'T KNOW HOW TO TELL HIM

I MIGHT NOT EVEN GRADUATE
FROM HIGH SCHOOL.

-I WOULD SUGGEST DOING
IT OVER A NICE DESSERT.

-THANKS.

-HEY, I'M WATCHING
YOU, BILLINGS.

SO HANG ON TO
YOUR CARDS THIS TIME.

-OKAY. I'M BACK.

-OH, WERE YOU GONE?

-AND SO, THERE WE WERE...

FIVE FRIENDS PLAYING POKER.

-HEY. MAYBE IF YOU
DEALT A LITTLE SLOWER,

MY CARDS WOULDN'T END
UP IN THE CHEESE PUFFS.

-FIVE FRIENDS
ARGUING AND SNIPING,

CARPING AND WHINING.

TAKING UMBRAGE AT EVEN
THE PETTIEST OFFENSE.

-YEAH, WELL, MAYBE IF YOU
LEARNED HOW TO SHUFFLE,

YOU COULD DEAL
ONCE IN A WHILE, HUH?

-YOU CALL THAT DEALING?

-SUFFER.

-FIVE FRIENDS WHO
COULDN'T AGREE ON A THING.

-HEY. WE'RE OUT OF FOOD.

-EXCEPT ONE THING.

-YEAH, SOMEONE SHOULD
RUN OUT AND GET MORE.

SO, WHO WANTS TO GO?

KEV?

-WHAT, AND LEAVE YOU
GUYS WITH ALL THE CARDS?

-ALL RIGHT, FINE. I'LL GO.

-NO WAY. HE'LL JUST GO
OUT AND GET ANOTHER DECK.

-ALL RIGHT, I'LL GO.

BUT I'LL TAKE THE
DECK OF CARDS WITH ME.

-OF COURSE, KEV, HOW DO
WE KNOW YOU WON'T CHEAT?

-ME?

SO, NATURALLY, THERE
WAS ONLY ONE SOLUTION.

WE DID WHAT ANY FIVE
PETTY, SQUABBLING,

DISTRUSTFUL BEST
FRIENDS WOULD DO.

GOD, WHY DOES IT TAKE
FIVE GUYS TO GO GET FOOD?

-BECAUSE WE'RE HUNGRY.

-BECAUSE WE'RE MORONS.

-HEY, WHO YOU CALLING A MORON?

-HEY, FIGURE IT OUT, SHERLOCK.

-HEY, LOOK, CAN YOU GUYS

MAYBE QUIT PICKING
ON EACH OTHER?

-I'M GONNA GO GET
THE STUFF, OKAY?

-NO. YOU GO, AND
YOU'LL COME BACK

WITH 12 POUNDS OF FRUIT.

WHOOPS.

-STUPID.

-WHAT DID YOU SAY, PAUL?

-NOTHING.

-NO, 'CAUSE I HEARD
YOU SAY SOMETHING.

-I DIDN'T SAY ANYTHING.

-WELL, HERE'S WHAT I SAY.

MAYBE YOU'RE A MORON, BUT
LET ME TELL YOU SOMETHING.

STEWART AND IRENE COLEMAN
DID NOT RAISE ANY MORONS.

-NO, YOU DESERVE ALL THE
CREDIT FOR THAT, RIGHT?

-I'M OUT OF HERE.

-ME TOO.

-NO, NOT THOSE.

THEY'RE BAD FOR YOU.

-GOD, PAUL, WHAT
IS YOUR PROBLEM?

-WHAT PROBLEM?

-I'M NOT SURE IF I
WAS ANGRY AT PAUL

OR IF I WAS ANGRY AT MYSELF

FOR SUDDENLY HATING
MY BEST FRIEND, BUT...

YOU KNOW, IT USED TO BE
FUN TO HANG AROUND WITH YOU.

AND I DON'T KNOW WHAT IT IS NOW,

BUT BEING WITH
YOU IS LIKE BEING...

-WHAT?

-I DON'T KNOW.

I JUST THINK...

BUT WHAT I DIDN'T WANT TO SAY
WAS THAT PAUL HAD CHANGED.

-YOU KNOW, KEV, YOU'VE CHANGED.

-WHAT?

HEY! WHAT'S THAT
SUPPOSED TO MEAN?

-I MEAN, YOU HANG
AROUND WITH THOSE GUYS,

AND ALL YOU CARE ABOUT IS
BEING COOL IN FRONT OF THEM.

-I DO NOT.

AND BESIDES, THEY'RE
YOUR FRIENDS, TOO.

-NO. THEY WERE
YOUR FRIENDS FIRST.

WE WERE FRIENDS,
SO I JUST CAME ALONG.

-WHAT, SO I CAN'T HAVE ANY
OTHER FRIENDS OTHER THAN YOU?

THAT'S RIDICULOUS.

YOU KNOW, I CALL YOU WHEN
THE GUYS GET TOGETHER.

I INVITE YOU TO THE
POKER GAMES. I...

-YEAH, AND THAT SKI
TRIP OVER SPRING BREAK...

I BET YOU WERE GONNA
INVITE ME TO THAT, TOO, RIGHT?

THAT'S WHAT I THOUGHT.

-HEY, I CAN'T EVEN SIT IN
THE CAR WITH YOU MORONS.

-SHUT UP, CHUCK.

YOU KNOW, I WOULDN'T
HAVE BE HERE

IF IT WASN'T FOR YOUR CHEATING.

-HEY, MR. MATH WHIZ,

DON'T YOU HAVE SOME
STUDYING TO DO OR SOMETHING?

-LOOK, SHUT UP ABOUT
MY MATH ALREADY.

AT LEAST I DON'T CHEAT.

-MAYBE YOU SHOULD.

YOU HAVEN'T WON A
HAND IN THREE MONTHS.

-WHY DON'T YOU BOTH TAKE A HIKE?

YOU SOUND LIKE YOU'RE MARRIED.

-I DON'T BELIEVE YOU GUYS.

YOU KNOW, YOU MAKE ME SICK?

-OH, YEAH?

WELL, WHAT ARE YOU
GONNA DO ABOUT IT?

-WHAT AM I GONNA DO ABOUT IT?

WHAT ARE YOU GONNA DO ABOUT IT?

AND, OF COURSE, THERE
WAS ONLY ONE ANSWER.

GENTLEMEN... THE ANTE IS $1.

THE LAST HAND OF THE NIGHT.

CARDS?

-TWO.

-THE PLAY WAS INTENSE...

THE CONVERSATION AT A MINIMUM.

-TWO.

-WHAT HAD BEGUN THREE HOURS AGO

AS A SIMPLE GAME
AMONG FRIENDS...

-THREE.

- HAD, BY 10:30,

DEVELOPED INTO AN
ALL-OUT GRUDGE MATCH.

-ONE.

-I'LL TAKE TWO.

SUDDENLY, WE WERE NO LONGER
BOYS PLAYING A MAN'S GAME.

WE WERE MEN.

MEN AT WAR.

DEFENDING OUR TURF...

STANDING OUR GROUND.

-ALL RIGHT.

I BET 20 CENTS.

-30.

-35.

-AND I'LL RAISE YOU 50.

-51.

IT WAS TIME TO SHOW NO MERCY...

TAKE NO PRISONERS.

THE BETS WERE DOWN.

PAIR OF JACKS.

-A STRAIGHT.

ALMOST.

-TWO PAIR... JACKS AND 9s.

-THREE 7s.

-IT'S UP TO YOU, JEFF.

AND THEN...

-I FOLD.

I GOT NOTHIN'.

-YOU MEAN I WIN?

-YOU WIN.

-I WON.

I CAN'T BELIEVE IT. I WON.

-AT THE VERY BRINK OF
DISILLUSIONMENT AND DESPAIR,

RANDY MITCHELL,
THE PERPETUAL LOSER,

FINALLY WON A HAND.

[TELEPHONE RINGS]

I'LL GET IT.

HELLO?

YEAH. YEAH, HANG ON.

CHUCK, IT'S ALICE.

-[BREATHES HEAVILY]

ALICE?

THAT'S GREAT.

UH, THAT... THAT'S GREAT.

YEAH.

ME TOO.

I'LL CALL YOU WHEN I GET HOME.

OKAY. BYE.

SHE'S NOT PREGNANT.

-AND THERE YOU HAD IT...

FORTUNE IN MEN'S LIVES.

FACE IT...

IN POKER AND FRIENDSHIP,

ANYTHING COULD HAPPEN.

AND ANYTHING USUALLY DID.

SEE YOU LATER, GUYS.

-THANKS, KEV.

GUESS I'LL GO HIT THE BOOKS.

-SEE YA.

-BOY, I WILL NEVER
HAVE SEX AGAIN.

HEY, WAIT UP!

-HEY, JEFF. SORRY
ABOUT THAT LAST HAND.

-WELL, HE DESERVED TO WIN ONE.

SEE YOU MONDAY, MAN.

-BYE.

-HEY, COLEMAN. YOU
STILL OWE ME 7 BUCKS.

- I DO NOT.
- I WANT AN IOU.

-THE FUNNY THING IS,
THAT NIGHT, CLEANING UP,

I KEPT THINKING
ABOUT THAT LAST HAND.

THE ONE THAT HAD TURNED
THINGS AROUND FOR RANDY...

FOR ALL OF US.

THE ONE JEFF HAD LOST.

WAIT A MINUTE.

JEFF WON.

I FELT PRETTY FOOLISH HAVING
QUESTIONED THE GUY'S INTEGRITY,

HIS HONESTY.

THE FACT THAT THIS
DECK HAD FIVE KINGS.

[DOOR OPENS]

-THE DOOR WAS OPEN.

I FORGOT MY JACKET.

-OH.

I GUESS THAT
SILENCE SAID IT ALL...

THAT THINGS HAD CHANGED
BETWEEN PAUL AND ME...

THAT THE UNSPOKEN EASE OF
OUR FRIENDSHIP WAS SLIPPING AWAY.

-SO, I GUESS I'LL
SEE YOU IN SCHOOL.

-YEAH.

PAUL?

UH...

I JUST WANTED TO SAY THAT, UH...

BUT THERE WAS NO WAY TO SAY IT.

THOSE 17 YEARS...

HE KNEW WHAT I MEANT.

-THANKS.

-AFTER ALL, STANDING THERE
ON THE EDGE OF ADULTHOOD,

WE KNEW THAT THE PROBLEMS
OF MEN WERE NOT EASILY SOLVED,

THAT LIFE WAS A RISK...

THAT GROWING UP WAS A GAMBLE...

THAT THE TIME FOR
BLUFFING HAD PASSED.

-COME ON, PAUL. LET'S
SEE WHAT YOU GOT.

-UH, IS THIS A 3 OR AN 8?

-AN 8.

-OH.

AFTER 40 YEARS,

I SHOULD THINK YOU COULD
AFFORD A NEW DECK OF CARDS.

-STILL, YOU NEVER KNEW.

JEFF, WHAT'S THAT
UNDER YOUR SLEEVE?

-MY CUFF LINK.

-YEAH?

WELL, THAT CUFF LINK

BETTER NOT BE ABLE
TO BEAT THREE QUEENS.

-NEVER MIND.

-WITH A LITTLE LUCK, THINGS
JUST MIGHT TURN OUT OKAY.

-WHAT YOU GOT?

-I GOT BUBKES.

-SO, ANYONE HUNGRY?