Yes, sir.
I got grease in this lining.
It'll take about 30 minutes to check it.
Check the oil, too.
Boys just passing through?
Yep.
Pittsburgh?
Uh-huh.
We got a sales convention.
What do you guys sell?
Druggist supplies.
Buster's going to get an award.
He sold 17,000 bucks worth of stuff last month.
Fastest and the best.
Hey, give us another round, will you?
It's a hot day for driving.
Late afternoon is better.
You guys have plenty of time.
Make Pittsburgh in two, maybe three hours.
Hey, he's right.
What do you say?
Play a little pool?
Wait out the heat?
It's going to cost you money.
Grab yourself a cue.
Good thing he can afford it.
Keep them coming, will you, friend?
J.T.S. Brown.
Hmm?
Ah.
You miss again,
you lose again.
What's the kid in hock for?
About 60, 70 bucks.
Next game, 10 bucks.
Nice-looking boy.
It's too bad he can't hold his liquor.
I made it, boy!
Pay up, sucker!
Talk about luck.
What do you mean?
You couldn't make that shot again
in a million years.
I couldn't, huh?
Go ahead, set them up
the way they were before.
Why?
Go ahead.
Bet you 20 bucks
I'll make this shot.
Nobody can make that shot,
not even a lucky lush.
How's that?
That the way they were before?
Yeah. That's it.
Come on. Put it up.
Ha ha ha!
Set them up again.
Come on. Set them up again!
You're drunk, boy.
No more bets.
We got to be at that convention
in the morning.
Up the flagpole with the convention!
I got my money on the table.
I don't want it.
I'll try you.
Well.
Don't be a chump.
Don't bet any more money.
Well, well, well!
You figure I'm a little drunk,
and you just want in real friendly
while the money's still floating, huh?
Okay.
Go ahead. Set them up.
You want some easy money, huh?
Here's $105.
That's one week's commissions.
You want to take the whole thing?
I'll take a piece.
No. I want him.
Okay.
I'll meet you in the car, chump.
Morning, Henry.
Quiet.
Yeah. Like a church.
Church of the good hustler.
Looks more like a morgue.
Those tables are the slabs they lay the stiffs on.
I'll be alive when I get out, Charlie.
Any table?
Any table.
No bar?
No bar. No pinball machines.
No bowling alleys.
Just pool. Nothing else.
This is Ames, mister.
Nice clean pocket drop.
How much am I going to win tonight?
10 grand.
I'm going to win 10 grand in one night.
Who's going to beat me?
Come on, Charlie.
Who's going to beat me?
Okay, okay. Nobody can beat you.
10 grand.
Is there any other pool room
where a guy can leave with 10 grand in one night?
I can remember hustling an old man
for a dime a game.
You looking for action?
Maybe.
You Eddie Felson?
Who's he?
What's your game?
You name it, we shoot it.
Look, friend.
I'm not trying to hustle.
Don't try to hustle me.
Okay. I'm Eddie Felson.
Got any straight pool shooters here?
What kind of straight pool game?
The expensive kind.
Come here to play with Minnesota Fats?
Yeah, that's right.
Want some free advice?
How much will it cost?
Who are you, his manager?
His friend? His stooge?
He's my partner.
You well-heeled, partner?
We got enough.
Go home.
Fats don't need your money.
Nobody's beat him in 15 years.
He's the best.
You got that wrong, mister.
I am.
You just go ahead and play him, friend.
Where can I find him?
Comes right in this poolroom every night,
8:00 on the nose.
You shoot a good stick.
Thanks.
Gee, you shoot straight pool, mister?
Now and then.
You know how it is.
You're Minnesota Fats, aren't you?
They say Minnesota Fats is the best
where I come from.
Is that a fact?
They say old Fats just shoots the eyes
right off them balls.
Where do you come from?
California. Oakland.
California?
Is your name Felson?
That's right.
I hear you've been looking for me.
Yeah. That's right, too.
Big John?
You think this boy is a hustler?
You like to gamble?
Gamble money on pool games?
Let's shoot a game of straight pool.
$100?
You shoot big-time pool, Fats.
That's what everybody says.
Let's make it $200 a game.
Now I know why they call you Fast Eddie.
Eddie, you talk my kind of talk.
Sausage, rack 'em up!
How do you feel?
Fast and loose, man.
In the gut, I mean.
Tight, but good.
Willie, hang on to that.
You break.
I didn't leave you much.
You left enough.
6 in the corner.
15 in the corner.
Ace in the side.
8.
10.
11.
Boy, he is great!
Geez, that old fat man!
He moves like a dancer.
12.
Cross side.
And those fingers.
Them chubby fingers!
That stroke.
It's like he's playing the violin.
3 ball.
4 ball.
Cross corner.
[Taps Cue]
Nice shot.
Safe.
7 ball in the corner.
6 in the corner.
125. Game.
13.
5.
10.
Game!
2 in the corner.
13.
125. Game.
Ace in the corner.
Quit. He's too good.
Charlie, I'm going to take him.
Your shot.
You miss?
You don't leave much, do you, fat man?
That's what the game's all about.
Uh-huh.
2 ball, side pocket.
[Taps Cue]
Very good shot.
I got a hunch, fat man.
It's me from here on in.
1 ball, corner pocket.
Did that ever happen to you?
All of a sudden
you feel like you can't miss?
I dreamed about this game, fat man,
every night on the road.
5 ball.
This is my table, man.
13 ball.
7 ball.
4 ball.
Game!
8 ball.
11 ball.
Rack 'em!
10 ball in the corner.
1 ball in the corner pocket.
Game!
Pay the man again, Fats.
How much we ahead?
Approximately 1,000 bucks.
Fats, let's shoot for $1,000 a game.
Preach.
Get me some whiskey
and some ice.
Get me some bourbon.
J.T.S. Brown. No ice.
Preach.
Get it atJohnny's.
You got a bet.
[Whispering]
Cash me in.
2 in the corner.
7.
Ace in the corner.
2 ball, side pocket.
5 ball.
9 ball.
125. Game.
10 ball.
Will you cut that sunshine out?
Hey, mister!
Name's Gordon, Bert Gordon.
Mister.
Would you mind moving?
You bother me.
5 ball.
That's game.
How much we got?
11,400, cash,
here and in my pocket.
Preacher, get me some breakfast.
Egg sandwich and coffee.
You want something, Charlie?
You're coming with me.
The pool game is over.
No, it isn't, Charlie.
The pool game is over
when Fats says it's over.
You wanted 10,000, you got 10,000.
Get with it, Charlie!
You can't see it.
I came after him,
and I'm going to get him.
I'm going with him all the way.
The pool game is not over
until Minnesota Fats says it's over.
I beat him all night,
and I'm going to beat him all day.
I'm the best you ever seen, Fats.
I'm the best there is.
Stay with this kid.
He's a loser.
What did he say?
25 hours, Eddie.
25 hours you've been playing straight.
Get me a drink.
You don't need a drink.
Shut up!
Just get me a drink.
18,000, Eddie.
We're ahead 18,000!
Minnesota Fats decides when this game's over.
It's over now.
Fast Eddie,
let's play some pool.
Let's go, Eddie.
You look beautiful, Fats.
Just like a baby.
All pink and powdered up.
What are you doing, Eddie?
You beat him bad. Want to kill yourself?
Are you chicken, Charlie?
Yeah, I'm chicken.
Leave me the money.
Go to hell.
Charlie, you better give me that money.
Give it to me. It's mine.
Okay.
Here. Be a damned fool!
Oh, yeah.
You really look beautiful, Fats.
Ha ha ha!
I'll break.
Ha ha ha!
9 ball.
15.
125.
Eddie?
Wake up, Eddie.
We lose again.
[Bottle Falls]
This is all we got left?
That's all you got. That's all we got left.
Willie,
give me the stake money.
Fats, I got about $200 here.
Game's over, Eddie.
I got about $200 here.
You can't run out on me.
You watch me.
Fats, come on.
Come on.
Hey, Fats?
Eddie.
I'm sorry, Charlie.
Give me a towel, will you?
May I have your attention, please?
Ha ha ha!
Are you sure?
Can I get you something?
Later.
Long wait for a bus?
Yes.
How long you been waiting?
What?
How long have you been waiting?
Since 4:00.
Just a cup of black coffee, please.
And ma'am, wait a minute!
Would you like another cup?
Fine. Thanks.
What time's the bus leave?
What bus?
Yours.
8:00.
That wouldn't give us much time, would it?
You're right. I guess it wouldn't.
Hello and good-bye.
Have a nice trip.
Thanks.
I will.
Give it to me.
6:00 bus toJersey City, Alexandria,
Triangle, and Williamsburg, Virginia,
loading on platform number three.
How much do I owe you?
It was paid for by the lady.
Give me some bourbon.
J.T.S. Brown.
Check.
Want a chaser?
No.
Have a nice trip?
Fair.
Can I sit down?
Why not?
We already know each other's secrets.
Thanks for the... for the breakfast.
Two ships passing in the night
should always buy each other breakfast.
Can I buy you another drink?
Another one for me and the lady.
Check.
You look different.
More relaxed.
The lights.
And the scotch.
You missed your bus.
I wasn't waiting for one.
Why go to the bus station?
The same reason you went.
That hour of the morning,
you haven't got much choice.
I only live three blocks from there.
Where do you live?
Around.
I know where you live.
In a locker in the bus station.
What's it like living in a locker?
Cramped.
You always drink like this
so early in the morning?
You always ask so many questions?
No, not always.
Sometimes I wake up, and I can't sleep,
not without a drink.
The bars don't open until 8:00.
Mac over there has faith in me.
When I'm broke, he trusts me.
Don't you trust me, Mac?
Check.
When I'm not broke,
I usually have a bottle in my room.
Then I sleep very well.
You talk funny, but I like it.
I used to be an actress.
What do you do now?
I'm a college girl.
Tuesdays and Thursdays I go to college.
You don't look like a college girl.
I'm the emancipated type.
Real emancipated.
I didn't mean that.
You just don't look young enough.
I'm not.
Why go to college?
Got nothing to do on those days.
What do you do on other days?
I drink.
Hey!
No. No more.
I'm getting sleepy.
Thank you very much, mister.
Eddie. The name's Eddie.
The name should be Eddie.
What should my name be?
Whatever you like it to be.
I like it to be what it is... Sarah.
That's a biblical name.
You want to know its meaning?
I could always get us a bottle.
No.
Afifth of scotch?
Do you want me to step out in the alley?
No.
I'll take you home.
All right.
It's all right.
I'm not drunk.
I'm lame.
Why me?
Please.
Please!
You're too hungry.
Take it. It's yours.
You can have this room for $1.50 a night
or $7.00 by the week.
For the night.
In advance.
Clara Macy.
Bottle of beer.
Hey, mister.
Can I grab a cue?
You're Eddie Felson, aren't you?
Who?
I saw you play at Ames the other night.
I tell you what.
I'll keep one hand in my pocket.
You're out of our league.
What are you stuck for?
Three. That's enough for me.
Thank you.
Can I buy you fellows a drink?
Okay.
Say, you know, you shoot good,
but you also shoot lucky.
Yeah, I shoot lucky.
Why did you do that?
I wanted to see what kind of a day it is.
Like any other. People come, people go.
Give me a drag.
What time is it?
11:00.
I'll be back later.
Why?
Come here.
Whoa! You need to shave.
There's a razor and shaving cream
in the bathroom.
Compliments of the house.
Why did you say that, Sarah?
How did you know my name was Sarah?
You told me.
I lie.
When I'm drunk, I lie.
Okay. So what's your name today?
Sarah.
Eddie.
Look, I've got troubles,
and I think you've got troubles.
Maybe it would be better
if we leave each other alone.
I got my things over at the hotel.
I'll bring them over later.
I'm not sure.
I don't know.
What do you want to know?
And why?
Hey!
Ooh!
Thank you.
[Knock On Door]
Where you been all day?
At school. It's Thursday.
Oh, I forgot.
You were asleep when I left.
I didn't want to wake you.
Did you go out?
Yeah. For a couple of hours.
A present.
I've been living here for almost three years.
Now, in three days,
it seems as if I know everybody.
When I pass people on the street,
I want to say, "I got a fella."
Thanks.
Where do you go when you go out?
Museums, art galleries, concerts.
I believe you when you say
you go to school.
You want to go with me?
Are you kidding?
See that book?
I've tried to get through it
ever since I got here.
You read all them books?
Uh-huh.
You got it all in your head?
They get mixed up when I'm drunk.
Usually they're mixed up.
Stop talking about yourself like you're a lush.
You ought to get some treatments.
I'm getting treatments right here.
I'm hungry.
Take your choice.
We won't have to leave the house
until Tuesday.
What did this cost you?
Pay when you've got the money.
I want to know.
The bills are right here.
What do you want?
Don't you ever cook anything?
Eggs. How do you like them?
Raw.
Oh.
I cut my finger.
I got something in my bag.
Oh, it's not bad.
Eddie, what's in that case?
Haven't you opened it?
No. Why should I?
It's yours.
It's a machine gun.
Someone told me when I came to the city,
I'd need a machine gun.
Where do you get the money to pay for all this?
I mean, the liquor and the groceries
and the rent?
From the rich old man
who used to be my lover.
[Knock On Door]
[Knock Knock Knock]
Hello, Eddie.
Hello, Charlie.
Come on in.
That's my girl.
Hello, Eddie's girl.
I looked all over for you.
How'd you find me?
I asked around.
Do you want me to go?
No. Stick around.
Can we get you a drink?
I don't want to be no bother.
Don't play it small, Charlie.
How should I play it? I'm broke.
So am I. Sit down.
Would you get us some drinks?
You walk out on me...
No good-bye, like a thief in the dark.
We were partners.
We were more than partners.
He was like a...
A son.
Yeah.
I've known him since he was 16.
The first time I saw him,
I said, " this is a talented boy.
This is a smart boy."
Talk to me, Charlie.
Come back on the road.
Nah. I've had that kind of life.
What kind of life have you got
scuffling around the small rooms?
I'll connect. You'll get your money back.
You want to play Minnesota Fats again?
Is that what's on your mind?
Never been out of it.
I want to beat that fat man
with that curly hair and those diamond rings.
They wiped the floor with him,
and he wants to go back.
What for?
I said you'd get your money!
He thinks I care about the money.
I care about you.
Do you care about me?
We're together a long time,
so how do you say good-bye?
You give me the car and 100 bucks.
Do you think I care
about the dough or the car?
I care about you.
This boy is the greatest pool hustler,
a high-class con man.
He can charm anybody into anything.
Did he ever tell you how well we were doing?
We had everything!
We had money to burn, whiskey, dames...
Excuse me.
Take her along.
If you don't want to start right away,
we won't.
We'll drive to Miami, have some laughs,
lie in the sun.
With what?
Don't worry about it.
I'll raise the money.
Oh, yeah? Where?
What's the difference? I'll raise it.
Can I have another drink?
Did you hold out on me, Charlie?
How much?
My 25%.
Approximately 1,500 bucks.
Oh, you crumb!
With that 1,500, I could've beat him.
That's all I needed, Charlie.
Give me the money.
To play Fats?
To play Fats!
If you're coming back on the road, okay.
If you're giving it to Minnesota Fats,
nothing doing.
You still don't see, do you?
You are nothing but a small-time Charlie.
You'd love to keep me hustling.
A couple more years with me,
you might make enough to get a poolroom
with a handbook on the side.
Is that when you say good-bye to me?
That's what you think?
Yeah!
All right. That's what I want.
A poolroom with a little handbook
on the side.
I'm getting old.
Lay down and die by yourself.
Don't take me with you.
Just like that?
Yeah, just like that!
Thanks for the drink, Eddie's girl.
Here.
Everybody,
everybody wants a piece of me!
Aren't you going to have one?
What did he have to come back here for?
Come here.
Come here!
Going out?
Yeah, for a little while.
Ohh.
Hey.
You okay?
What are you writing?
Oh, it's a story,
a story I'm making up.
Give it to me.
What's this supposed to mean?
Give it back to me.
What's this supposed to mean?
"We have a contract of depravity.
All we have to do is pull a blind down."
Write yourself another story.
Well, what else have we got?
We never talk about anything.
We stay in this room,
and we drink, and we make love.
We're strangers.
What happens when the liquor
and the money run out, Eddie?
You told Charlie to lay down and die.
Will you say that to me, too?
What happens, Eddie?
Just find yourself another rich old lover.
And I'm sure you'll help me.
Are you waiting
for me to cry?
You bum.
You poolroom bum!
Give me three cards.
Give me a bottle of beer.
How'd you make out?
I made a couple of bucks.
Poker game?
Yeah.
Is it open?
Huh?
It's open.
What will you have?
Give me a beer.
Okay?
Sit down.
What's the limit?
Half on a dollar.
Give me 10 bucks worth.
$10.
Make it 20.
$20.
Cut.
Deal.
Bourbon,J.T.S. Brown.
Two.
I'm buying.
I thought you only drank milk.
Only when I work.
Yeah? Why?
I like it. It's good for you.
Besides, you start drinking whiskey gambling,
it gives you an excuse for losing.
How'd you do in the game?
I lost 20 bucks.
Poker's not your game.
What is?
Pool.
Are you being cute?
I don't think anyone shoots better pool
than I saw you shoot at Ames.
You got talent.
So what beat me?
Character.
Yeah, sure, sure.
You're damn right I'm sure.
Everybody's got talent. I got talent.
You can't play poker for 40 hours on talent.
Minnesota Fats isn't the best
just because he's got talent.
Minnesota Fats has more character than you.
I got drunk.
He drank as much as you did.
Maybe he knows how to drink.
You think that's a talent, too?
What do I do now?
Lie down and bow?
What do I do? Go home?
That's your problem.
So I stay
until I hustle up enough to play Fats again.
Maybe by that time,
I'll develop myself some character.
Maybe by that time,
you'll die of old age.
How much do you think you'll need?
1,000.
No. 3,000 at least.
He'll start at 500 a game.
He'll beat the pants off you.
That's the way he plays
against a man who knows the game.
He might be scared of you.
That could change things,
but I wouldn't count on it.
How do you know?
Nobody knows that much.
See that big car outside?
I get a new one every year
because I make it my business
to know what guys will do.
I made enough off you
to pay for it twice.
In that case,
you owe me another drink.
Go ahead.
Eddie? Is it okay if I get personal?
What have you been so far?
Eddie, you're a born loser.
What's that supposed to mean?
First time in 10 years
I ever saw Minnesota Fats hooked,
but you let him off.
I got drunk.
Sure you got drunk.
You had the best excuse for losing.
Winning can be heavy, too.
Drop that load, too,
when you got an excuse.
Feeling sorry for yourself
is a great indoor sport
enjoyed by all,
especially the born loser.
Thanks for the drink.
Wait. Maybe I can help you.
To do what?
Get the 3,000. Play Minnesota Fats.
Why?
10 reasons, maybe 15.
There's something in it for me.
How much?
75%.
For who?
For me.
Who do you think you are?
General Motors?
How much do you think you're worth?
I'm putting up the money.
I get 75% if you win.
You think I can lose?
I never saw you win.
You saw me beat Minnesota Fats for $18,000.
When you hustle,
at the end of the game,
you count your money.
That's how you find out who's best.
Why back me, then?
Find yourself a big poker game.
I like action.
One thing I think you're good for
is action.
Besides, you got talent.
Yeah, you already told me that.
Cut that slice down to bite size,
maybe we can talk.
No. I don't make bad bets.
75/25. That's it.
Kiss off.
Hey, wait.
What will you do about the money?
There are places. I'll scuffle around.
The word's out on you.
You walk in the wrong place,
they'll eat you alive.
When did you adopt me?
I don't know when it was.
Hi.
You lucky punk. I quit you.
You want in, friend?
How much you playing for?
$1.00 on the 5, 2 on the 9.
I'll play you a couple.
Whew!
That's it for me.
You quitting, too?
You're a good player.
How much are you ahead?
A couple bucks.
I guess it's just you and me.
I guess it is, boy.
Let's raise the bet.
2 on the 5, 5 on the 9.
You know what, kid?
I think you're a hustler.
Try me.
Shoot.
Okay.
You sure you don't want to quit?
Let's cut the small stuff.
$100 freeze out.
10 games. 10 bucks a game.
Winner take all.
Then we'll see who quits.
Okay, friend. You're on.
Call it.
Heads.
You win.
You better not miss, friend.
I don't rattle, kid.
But just for that,
I'm going to beat you flat.
That's one.
That's five.
That's six.
That's 10.
You two-bit punk.
Pay up. 100 bucks.
You quitting, friend?
Yeah, I'm quitting.
Why, you're a pool shark, boy.
A real pool shark.
So's he.
But you're better than he was...
much better.
There's your money, boy.
All right.
Pool shark!
Wait a minute.
Let's give this boy his money.
We always pay what we lose, boy.
Ooh!
Aah!
[Pounding On Door]
Who is it?
It's me. It's Eddie.
What happened?
I got beat up.
They...
they broke my thumbs.
Oh, my God!
They...
they broke my thumbs.
They broke my...
It's all right.
I'm here.
[Typewriter]
You can read it if you want to.
You want to go out? To a movie?
No.
You want a drink?
No. Do you?
What is it so hot in here for?
Please!
Sarah, you think I'm a loser?
A loser?
Yeah.
I met this guy, Bert Gordon.
He said I'm a born loser.
Would he know?
He knows a lot.
Why did he tell you?
I'm not sure.
He said some people
look for an excuse to lose.
What does he do, this Bert Gordon?
He's a gambler.
Is he a winner?
Well, he owns things.
Is that what makes a winner?
What else does?
Does it bother you, what he said?
Yeah.
Yeah, it bothers me a lot,
'cause twice, Sarah,
once at Ames with Minnesota Fats
and then at Arthur's...
in that cheap, crummy poolroom.
Now, why did I do it?
I could've beat that guy cold.
He never would have known.
I just had to show those punks
what the game is like when it's great.
You know, like anything can be great.
Anything can be great.
Bricklaying can be great
if a guy knows
what he's doing and why
and can make it come off.
When I'm really going,
I feel like a jockey must feel
with all that speed and power
underneath him.
He's coming into the stretch,
the pressure's on him,
and he just feels when to let it go
and how much,
'cause he's got everything working...
timing, touch.
It's a real great feeling
when you're right
and you know you're right.
It's like I got oil in my arm.
The pool cue's part of me.
It's got nerves in it.
You feel the roll of those balls.
You don't have to look.
You just know.
You make shots that nobody's ever made,
and you play that game
the way nobody's ever played.
You're not a loser, Eddie.
You're a winner.
about anything.
I love you, Eddie.
You know, someday, Sarah,
you're going to settle down,
and you're going to marry
a college professor.
You're going to write a great book...
Maybe about me, huh?
Fast Eddie Felson, hustler.
I love you.
You need the words?
I need them very much.
If you ever say them,
I'll never let you take them back.
Are you glad?
Yes, I'm glad.
Hello, Eddie.
Hi. How's business?
Slow.
Why the openhand bridge?
Something wrong with your hand?
I had a little accident.
You seem to do okay that way.
My game's 20% off, maybe more.
Somebody step on your hand?
A big creep broke my thumbs.
A man named Turk Baker?
You know everybody, don't you?
Everybody who can hurt me.
Everybody who can help me, I pay.
Where do I sign up?
First match is Louisville, Kentucky.
I'll be there.
What happened to you?
My thumbs.
I don't mean your thumbs.
Maybe I'm not
such a high-class piece of property right now.
A 25% slice of something big
is better than a 100% slice of nothing.
Hey, give us a couple of drinks,
will you?
J.T.S. Brown.
Good evening, sir.
Give us a nice quiet table.
Yes, sir. Right this way.
Would you like a drink before dinner, sir?
Okay?
Sherry.
Very old. Very dry.
Two.
Sherry?
It's a nice joint.
You look very pretty.
I feel pretty.
What's so funny?
Your tie.
I've never seen you wear one.
Afirst time for everything.
Oh, yeah.
That's great.
Excuse me, sir.
To you, Eddie.
Thank you, sir.
What is it, Eddie?
Want another drink?
What do you want to tell me?
I'll be leaving town for a little while.
For how long?
Oh, I don't know.
A week? Ayear?
More like a week.
I'll be back.
Sure.
Let's go.
Taxi.
No, I want to walk.
Come here. Come on.
You better get some dry things on.
Don't you want to know where I'm going?
No.
Yes. I want to know what for,
but I don't want to ask.
I'm going to Louisville with a friend
to make some money.
I need it, the money.
I'll be leaving early in the morning.
Leave now.
Oh, grow up.
Why should I?
I'm going to Kentucky to play pool.
I need the money.
I said I'd be back.
If you were coming back,
you wouldn't have taken me out tonight
or bought this dress.
You're hustling me, Eddie.
I never hustled you,
even when I thought I was.
What do I do? Sit here and wait?
You'll come back and you'll love me,
and then you'll go away again.
Is that your idea of love?
I got no idea of love.
Neither one of us would know what it was
if we saw it coming down the street.
I'd know it.
What are you trying to do to me?
I love you.
Well, what's your idea of love? Chains?
No.
I made you up, didn't I?
You weren't real.
I made you up like everything else.
There was no car crash, Eddie.
When I was 5, I had polio.
The rich old man is my father.
He walked out on us when I was 7.
He sends me a check every month.
That's how he buys his way
out of my life.
The men I've known... after they left,
I'd say they weren't real.
I made them up.
I wanted you to be real.
I'm so scared, Eddie.
I'm scared.
Sarah Packard, Bert Gordon.
Miss Packard, how do you do?
That brown one is mine.
It goes in there.
I got it, I got it.
You sure you're comfortable, Miss...
Packard. Sarah Packard.
I have trouble remembering names.
You want anything?
No, I'm fine.
You ever been to Louisville
during derby week?
I've never been to Louisville.
Lots of class.
See some of the best-dressed,
most beautiful women in the world.
James Findley's very rich.
Grandfather left him 20% of the tobacco company.
And he hustles pool?
He's a gentleman gambler,
gets his kicks playing with hustlers.
He's got an old southern mansion.
Drinks 8-year-old bourbon.
How good is he?
They say he's one of the best.
You must have confidence in me.
I have confidence in Findley.
What's that mean?
I'm confident he's a loser.
You're only half a loser.
The other half, a winner.
Here, I got it.
No, I pick up all the tabs.
Fats knew the game was in the clutch.
He played it smart.
In my head,
I played that game 1,000 times.
Play it again. Learn something.
Fats went in theJohn.
Washed his face.
Combed his hair.
Came back all ready to go.
You were through.
You saw how he looked.
All set to start all over again.
You know what you were doing?
You were waiting to get beat.
Flattened out on your butt.
Swimming around in glory and whiskey.
Probably deciding how you could lose.
How do you know what Eddie was thinking?
I know.
I've been there myself.
We've all been there,
haven't we, Miss Packard?
Got a match, Eddie?
Doesn't your lighter work, Mr. Gordon?
I forgot all about it.
How's your hand?
Fine.
Good. I don't like backing cripples.
Why did you say that?
Mr. Gordon meant no offense.
It was a figure of speech.
That's right, Miss Packard.
A fact is a fact.
Smart girl, Eddie.
Right this way, Mr. Gordon.
Suite 56.
I wired ahead
for two suites adjoining.
I want two suites.
We're filled up.
You must have gotten my wire.
Look through your reservations.
You were right, Mr. Gordon.
I mislaid your wire.
Two adjoining suites.
[Billiard Balls Clicking]
That's sweet music in there.
You can almost smell the action and money!
I can feel it in my shoes.
Eddie?
Hey, Billy, how are you?
Fast Eddie! Everybody's here.
It's like a hustlers convention.
The guys will be glad to see you.
What room are we in?
57.
I'll be up later.
Thank you, sir.
Wait a minute, Miss Packard.
We're neighbors now.
You can call me Sarah.
I want to talk.
Do we need words?
We could try to cut each other up.
It would be bad for Eddie.
You know what's good for him?
To win.
For whom and for what?
What makes the world go round?
For money and for glory.
For whom?
Today for me. Tomorrow for himself.
You own all the tomorrows
because you buy them today,
and you buy cheap.
Nobody has to sell.
You bastard!
Look, you're here on a rain check.
You're hanging on by your nails.
If Eddie hears that glory whistle,
you finish last.
So don't make trouble.
Live and let live...
while you can.
I'll make it up to you.
How?
You tell me.
[Starting Bell]
Thanks.
There are three late scratches from the following race...
Rosemary, Stroke of Luck, and Ellen Parr.
Where's Bert?
He went off someplace.
With the 200 bucks I won last night
and today at the track,
I got $540.
Here, you hold it.
Just for luck.
Findley's here.
Where?
Over there by the bar.
Aren't you going over to him?
He'll be over here.
You ready for another?
Thank you.
I haven't seen you in a long time.
I haven't been here
for a long time.
Miss Packard. Eddie Felson.
James... uh...
Findley.
Hello.
I've heard about you.
You play pocket billiards.
Now and then.
Why? Do you?
A little. I generally lose.
So does Eddie.
Well, I win sometimes.
I'll bet you do, Mr. Felson.
How much?
Bert?
Mr. Felson's making a proposition.
Could be.
Maybe you'd like to come out
to my place some evening.
We could play a few games of billiards.
When?
Come out tonight.
What time?
I'm having some people over
right after the races.
Why don't you all come over?
We'll be there.
Good, good.
I'll stay at the hotel.
I'm a little tired.
There'll be a lot of laughs.
Findley's parties are famous.
He invites everybody from top to bottom.
It excites him to be around
what he calls the criminal type.
Some men are like that.
Some women, too.
[Dixieland Jazz]
~~
[Whispers]
[Band Stops Playing]
What happened?
She's had a little too much to drink.
Go upstairs and sleep it off.
Come on. Go upstairs.
[Band Plays Again]
Would you like a drink?
No, none for me.
Come on, let's play.
Thought we came to play pool.
I don't play pool. I play billiards.
My house, my game.
You don't have to play
if you don't want to.
Well, we won't.
Let me play.
How much?
We'll start small.
$100 a game?
You ever play billiards before?
Sure.
You hustling me?
Come now.
You can afford $100 to find out.
Deal the cards.
Beautiful shot, Felson.
You've played billiards before.
You gentlemen sure you don't care
for a drink?
Nothing for me.
How do we stand?
About even.
If that's his best game,
I can beat him.
You ever played billiards before?
What's the difference?
You got a pool cue, balls on the table.
Let's raise the stakes to 500.
You really think you can beat him?
He thinks he can.
I know he can.
I asked him will he.
With Eddie, that's two different things.
I can beat him.
All right. 500.
Have you noticed, Bert?
This fella here bears a striking resemblance to you.
It seems as though
you might have modeled for the artist.
Possible.
Mark that one up, too, Bert.
I'll beat him the next game.
How are the hands?
They're fine.
Rack up your cue.
We're leaving.
The night is young.
The night is $2,000 old.
Bert, wait a minute.
I said we're leaving.
I didn't think he knew how to hustle.
I can beat him.
I don't believe you.
I think you're still a loser.
All right, then.
I'll play him on my own money.
I'll be right back.
Okay, come on. Let's play.
Here it is. I'm broke.
That's unfortunate, Mr. Felson.
For whom, Mr. Findley?
Bert, you can't get off me now.
The bank is closed.
I know when to quit. You don't.
What do you want me to do?
Don't beg him, Eddie.
Go back to the hotel.
Please, Eddie. Don't beg.
Go on back to the hotel.
Doesn't any of this mean anything to you?
This place, the people.
They wear masks, Eddie.
And underneath the masks,
they're perverted, twisted, crippled.
Shut up!
Don't wear a mask, Eddie.
That's Turk, Eddie.
He's not going to break your thumbs.
He'll break your heart.
He hates you
because of what you are.
Would you get off my back, Sarah?
Get off my back!
Go ahead and play him, Eddie.
Play him for $1,000 a game.
Would you take a check, Bert?
Cash.
How much do I owe you?
12,000.
Here.
It's been an interesting evening.
Yeah. Sure has.
Charles.
Call a cab for these gentlemen, please.
I'd show you to the door, but...
Yeah, you're tired.
And beat.
Yeah.
You must come again.
Yeah, sure.
There's your share. 3,000.
Your cab's waiting.
Oh, yeah, yeah.
Thanks.
Come on, Eddie. Let's go.
I want to walk.
It's a long walk.
I got time, Bert.
You want me to tell her for you?
Tell her what?
You got to be hard, Eddie.
[Knocks]
When are you leaving?
In a little while.
It's what you want, isn't it?
It's what Eddie wants.
He, uh, told me to give you some money.
Put it on the bed.
Isn't that the way it's done?
That's the way it's done.
That way you are looking at me.
Is that the way you look at a man
you've just beaten?
As if you'd taken his money
and now you want his pride?
All I want's the money.
Sure. Just the money.
And the aristocratic pleasure
of seeing him fall apart.
You're Roman, Bert.
You have to win them all.
You got a drink?
Give me my key, please.
Room 57.
Well, come on, give me my key.
How did she get in the room?
She closed the door and went in there
maybe 10 minutes.
Hey, let him come in.
Eddie, uh...
Eddie?
She come in here, Eddie. She...
asked me for a drink.
I give her one, and...
we had a few more.
Eddie, she came in here.
Aah!
Eddie, stop!
Uhh!
Stop it!
[Bert Screaming]
Came to play pool, Fats.
That's good, Eddie. For how much?
You name it.
$1,000 a game.
Let's make it $3,000 a game, Fats.
Come on, $3,000.
That's my bankroll, my life savings.
What's the matter, Fats?
If you beat me the first game,
I'm on my way back to Oakland.
Let's go.
Get on me, Bert.
I can't lose.
Willie.
Call it.
Heads.
How should I play that one, Bert?
Play it safe?
You always told me to play the percentage.
Well, here we go, fast and loose.
1 ball, corner pocket.
Percentage players die broke, too, don't they, Bert?
How can I lose?
12 ball.
I mean, how can I lose?
'Cause you were right, Bert.
It's not enough to have talent.
You got to have character, too.
4 ball.
Yeah, I sure got character now.
I got it in a hotel room in Louisville.
Shoot pool, Fast Eddie.
I'm shooting pool, Fats.
When I miss, you can shoot.
5 ball.
14 ball.
4 ball.
That's the game.
Game.
8 ball.
13 ball.
I quit, Eddie.
I can't beat you.
Willie, give him the stake.
You got yourself a pool player.
Preacher, give me my coat, will you?
Where do you think you're going?
Eddie?
You owe me money!
Just how do you figure that, Bert?
What do you figure I owe you?
Half.
In Louisville, it was 75%.
Well, here it's half.
What if I don't pay you, Bert?
You don't pay me?
You're going to get
your thumbs broken again.
And your fingers.
If I want them to,
they'll break your right arm.
Better pay him, Eddie.
So you figure you're still my manager?
I'm a businessman, kid.
You got many games lined up?
We'll make a lot of money.
50%?
It don't have to be 50. It'd be 30, 25.
We really stuck the knife in her.
Aaah.
We really gave it to her good.
And if it didn't happen in Louisville,
it'd happen someplace else.
If it didn't happen now, it'd happen in six months.
That's the kind of dame she was!
But we twisted it, didn't we, Bert?
Maybe that doesn't stick in your throat
'cause you spit it out
just like everything else!
But it sticks in mine.
I loved her, Bert.
I traded her in on a pool game.
That wouldn't mean anything to you,
because who did you ever care about?
"Win", you said.
You don't know what winning is.
You're a loser.
'Cause you're dead inside.
You can't live unless you make
everything else dead around you!
Too high, Bert.
The price is too high.
If I take it, she never lived.
She never died.
We both know that's not true.
She lived. She died.
Well, we'd better...
Tell your boys they better kill me,
because if they just bust me up,
put all those pieces back together,
and then, so help me God, Bert,
I'll come back here and I'll kill you.
No.
All right.
Only, uh...
don't ever walk into a big-time pool hall again.
Fat man.
You shoot a great game of pool.
So do you, Fast Eddie.